Contact CU Independent Assistant Sports Editor Justin Guerriero at justin.guerriero@colorado.edu and follow him on Twitter @TheHungry_Hippo
The University of Colorado women’s basketball team defeated the Presbyterian Blue Hose Saturday afternoon, 72-60, in its final home game of 2015.
“Tonight was one of our best games as far as creating turnovers and turning those turnovers into scores,” head coach Linda Lappe said after the game. “I’m excited for the win.”
After a tough loss to Missouri a week ago, the Buffs came to win, overcoming a sloppy first quarter, and they dispatched the Blue Hose thanks to key performances from junior winger Lauren Huggins and senior forward Jamee Swan.
Huggins tied for the team lead in points with 16. She shot 5-of-10 from the field, and her three-point shooting proved to be a constant nuisance to the Presbyterian defense.
Swan scored her 1,000th point in a Buffaloes uniform on a layup in the third quarter. She finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds, which is the 12th double-double of her career.
The Buffs and the Blue Hose exchanged threes to begin the first few minutes of play. Colorado had early difficulties finding ways to score points, and the offense looked awkward and rushed at times throughout the first 10 minutes.
With just over three minutes left in the first quarter, the Buffs trailed 17-9. But they fought back and lowered their deficit to four points heading into quarter two.
From there, Colorado gradually took control of the game. A few minutes into the second half, sophomore guard Brecca Thomas had a spectacular play. She moved the ball around the top of the arc, and without warning or hesitation threw a bullet of an over-the-shoulder pass to Swan, who tossed the ball up for a quick layup.
Thomas and Swan shared another nice play later in the game, as Swan made a layup, capitalizing from an impressive steal and quick pass by Thomas.
Thomas finished with ten points and shot 4-of-5 from the field.
Credit freshman guard Kennedy Leonard as a contributing factor in the Buffs’ momentum, as well. Leonard, who has been a noticeable bright spot on the roster in her first season of collegiate basketball, finished with five points.
Leonard’s shooting was off, but her team-leading seven assists and relentless hustle — on offense and defense — aided the Buffaloes in gaining the upper ground in the game.
The second half featured a Buffaloes team that clicked on offense and played hard defense.
The Buffs took control in the third quarter. Swan and Huggins led the way, with Huggins nailing a couple of critical threes late in the quarter that were quite detrimental to Presbyterian’s cause.
“At halftime we were able to adjust and come out in the third quarter, and be able to kind of pick their defense apart,” Huggins said after the game. “We got the ball into the post finally and were able to knock down outside shots.”
The Buffs’ biggest lead of 12 would come in the fourth quarter, as the offense continued to click while simultaneously, the Blue Hose faltered on both sides of the ball. Presbyterian turnovers led to 24 points for the Buffaloes.
The Buffaloes (5-5) will travel to Laramie, Wyoming, on Monday for their last game of 2015 and their last game before Pac-12 conference play begins in January. Last season, the Buffs walked away from Wyoming with a hard-fought 76-71 victory. Similar results are expected Monday.
“Whenever you play Wyoming it builds character,” Lappe said. You have to be tough and figure out ways to win ugly. You just have to want it.”
Tipoff for the game between Colorado and Wyoming is Monday night at 7pm, MST.
