Colorado University Athletics
Colorado
8-1
USC
5-5
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern California | 26 | 60 | 86 |
| Colorado | 36 | 57 | 93 |
Metoyer Seals Victory From Line
December 21, 2002 | Women's Basketball
BOULDER - Colorado withstood a late second-half push to down the University of Southern California 93-86 on Saturday afternoon at the Coors Events Center.
Colorado (8-1) held a 10-point lead at the half, with a 36-26 advantage, but USC (5-5) made it interesting down the stretch. After holding back the Women of Troy for the better part of the game, Colorado's lead began to shrink with 3:20 remaining.
Capitalizing on Colorado turnovers and fouls, with both teams in the double-bonus, Southern California tied the game with 1:18 left to play. Colorado promptly took back the lead with a pair of Amber Metoyer free throws 20 seconds later to drive the score to 88-86. Colorado sealed the victory with another Metoyer free throw and a pair each from forwards Sabrina Scott and Randi Wirt.
"I thought that Amber (Metoyer) came in and in the last two minutes she was the difference for us," said head coach Ceal Barry. "She got to the free-throw line and that was the difference...I felt good (having her at the line) because she's a competitor and she likes to win. When the game is on the line, she wants the ball, she wants to be the one shooting the free throws."
The physical battle saw a trio of players take an early exit as Colorado's junior center Tera Bjorklund fouled out with 1:58 left, followed by Southern California's junior center Ebony Hoffman at 58 seconds left and junior guard Rometra Craig with just 29 seconds remaining.
Leading the charge for the Buffaloes was Bjorklund, who finished with 28 points in just 21 minutes of action. Junior guard Kate Fagan cashed in three from beyond the arc and finished the game with 21.
Others in double figures for the Buffs were sophomore guard Syreeta Stafford (11 points) and senior forward Sabrina Scott (10 points).
Hoffman paced the Women of Troy with 23 points while Craig added 19 and sophomore forward Rachel Woodward finished with 13.
Colorado returns to the court on New Year's Eve when they travel to New York to take on Syracuse. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m.
