The University of Colorado Women’s basketball team celebrates its win against the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs Wednesday, March 19, 2014, at the Coors Events Center in Boulder. The Lady Buffs will advance to the second round of the Women’s NIT. (Elizabeth Rodriguez/CU Independent)
College basketball teams always look to peak in March, and if Wednesday night’s win over Texas Christian University was any indication, head coach Linda Lappe’s Colorado Buffaloes are doing just that.
In the first round of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament, the University of Colorado women’s basketball team beat the TCU Horned Frogs 78-71 Wednesday night at home in the Coors Events Center.
Three Buffaloes scored in the double digits in a game that Colorado dominated for much of the first half, with sophomore forward Arielle Roberson leading the Buffs with 18 points. Sophomore forward Jamee Swan followed closely with 16 points while senior guard Ashley Wilson put up 13 points.
Colorado went into the half with a comfortable 13-point lead, leading the Horned Frogs 43-30 in what seemed to be headed for a blowout.
As TCU began to implement a full-court press out of the half, Colorado’s double-digit lead evaporated. With 5:10 left in the game, TCU had tied it up. Fortunately, a pair of free throws from freshman forward Haley Smith put the Buffs up for good.
“Obviously we didn’t do a good job letting them come all the way back,” Lappe said. “But I did like our composure when that happened.”
TCU was led in scoring by sophomore guard Zahna Medley, who scored 23 points and was four for 10 in three-point shooting.
With this win, Colorado advances to the second round of the WNIT, in which they will play the winner of Thursday night’s Colorado State University vs. Southern Utah University match-up. The Buffs played and beat both of these teams in their non-conference schedule earlier this season.
“We’re extremely excited to have our season continuing,” Lappe said. “We’re in a good spot right now.”
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Sam Routhier at Samuel.routhier@colorado.edu.
