Contact CU Independent Sports Staff Writer Jake Mauff at jacob.mauff@colorado.edu
The University of Colorado women’s basketball team fell in Tuscon to the Arizona Wildcats, 63-52. It was the team’s seventh straight loss, including all six of the Buffaloes’ Pac-12 matchups to this point.
It was a tough offensive outing for the Buffs. They only shot 17-of-57 for the game, good for 29.8 percent. While any shooting performance below 30 percent is substandard, this figure includes an impressive 8-14 from behind the arc, highlighting Colorado’s inability to finish close to the rim.
The second quarter continues to plague Colorado. They scored only eight points during that 10-minute stretch against the Wildcats. Including the Buffs’ second quarter against Arizona State, the team has scored 12 points in the second quarter of their last two games.
The game was close going into the fourth quarter. Colorado was down by two, 42-40, and came out with a strong push. Arizona counteracted this and came out equally as strong. With 4:54 left in the game, the Wildcats were up 52-50. From there, the game slipped away from the Buffs. They were outscored 9-2 the rest of the way.
Fouling also continues to be an issue for the Buffs. Colorado was called for 21 personal fouls, compared to Arizona’s 15. In addition, five players had at least three fouls for the Buffaloes.
The team did their best to negate this effect with their strong performance from the charity stripe. Colorado shot 10-of-12 on free throws. The Wildcats went to the line more than Colorado, totalling 24 attempts, but making only 17.
Junior forward Lauren Huggins, freshman guard Kennedy Leonard and junior forward Haley Smith all scored in double digits, with 15, 12 and 10 points, respectively. Huggins’ performance was particularly impressive, as she only shot three pointers, going 5-7 from deep.
This couldn’t counteract Arizona’s offense. The Wildcats also had three players in double digit scoring, highlighted by junior forward LaBrittney Jones. She led the way with 22 points and nine rebounds.
Senior center Jamee Swan came off the bench for the Buffs after missing time last week with a back injury. Swan only scored two points, both on free throws, while not making a single one of her 11 field goal attempts. Swan did lead the team in rebounds, with eight, and collected two assists.
Swan also had extra incentive to play, as she comes from Marana, Arizona, and this was her last collegiate game in the state.
Colorado (5-12) will face Oregon (12-5) at home on Friday, Jan. 22. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
