The University of Colorado’s Linda Lappe feels at home once again.
Lappe suited up in a Buffs’ jersey from 1998-2003, and is showing that she is ready to bring her own winning-drive to the team. The Buffs beat the Regis Rangers 76-38 in the season opener.
“These guys did a great job of really focusing on what we wanted to get better at and really executed what we were looking for,” Lappe said.
The Buffs got on the board at the 17:03 mark with a lay-up by sophomore forward Meagan Malcolm-Peck, with sophomore guard Janeesa ”Chucky” Jeffery making the assist.
From that point on, it was all Buffs’ basketball. The Buffs were up 42-17 at the end of the first half. The Rangers never found the momentum to build a comeback as they scored their first points in the second half almost five minutes in.
“I really like how we ended the first half and started the second half,” Lappe said. “I think we went on a 14-0 run in the first half and went on a 12-0 run to start the second half.”
Several players had all-star nights. Senior forward Brittany Spears finished with 20 points. Jeffery made her presence felt all over the court, racking up a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds. She also picked up six assists and steals.
“It was really fun,” Jeffery said. “It’s not really too much about scoring for me. I like to get stuff for my teammates. I’m really big on the assist game right now. I know we need to rebound, so I just help us any way I can.”
Britney Blythe also scored in the double digits, bringing in 15 points in the effort. Blythe played in just 10 games last season and averaged less than three minutes per game. This season is shaping up to be a whole new story, and Blythe likes the way the team is working together early this season.
“Our teammates–we’re all believing in each other,” Blythe said. “We’re coming off a high from our exhibition game. I think it just feels good. You can tell we all have confidence, and the ball’s just moving.”
Lappe announced Friday that freshman forward Shae Kelley has left the team citing personal reasons.
“Shae has decided to leave the University of Colorado and move on with her college career,” Lappe said in a press release. “We wish her the best of luck in the future.”
“We just wish her the best of luck, like coach Lappe said,” Blythe said in the post-game press conference. “Honestly, we’re all for what she needs, and we’re all for what our team needs now because we’re moving forward and we can’t look towards the past anymore. We wish her the best of luck though, we do.”
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Marlee Horn at marlee.horn@colorado.edu.
