Colorado University Athletics
Colorado
4-1
Wyoming
4-1
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 32 | 41 | 73 |
| Wyoming | 30 | 32 | 62 |
Buffs Stop Wyoming 73-62
December 04, 2002 | Women's Basketball
LARAMIE, Wyo. - The Colorado women's basketball team used a strong second half defensive effort and sharp shooting down the stretch to knock off Wyoming 73-62 in Laramie on Wednesday night.
Tera Bjorklund was CU's leading scorer, netting 23 points on the night in 25 minutes of play. Senior Linda Lappe had 18 points, 15 in the second half to put Colorado over the top, including six free throws down the stretch. Sabrina Scott was the only other Buff in double figures with 12 points, while Randie Wirt was the top Buff on the boards with seven.
"I credit the senior starters for this win," said head coach Ceal Barry following the game. "Linda Lappe and Sabrina Scott. I thought Sabrina, in the first half, carried us when our offense was struggling. Lappe did a nice job down the stretch making her free throws and making some big plays. We need to play clean and anytime we can get a win on the road, it's a good win."
Things started out bumpy for the Buffs, as Wyoming jumped out to an early 14-5 lead at the 15:14 mark of the first half. Carrie Bacon led the way for the Cowgirls with eight quick points. The Buffs came roaring back, as they scored nine straight to tie the game on a three-point play by Lappe.
The teams exchanged leads several times in the first half, with CU garnering it's biggest lead of the first stanza at the 5:30 mark on a Wirt free throw to lead 28-19. The Cowgirls wouldn't go quietly, rattling off seven straight points, including a three-pointer with seven seconds left by Ashley Elliott to leave the game 32-30 at the half with a slight CU lead.
After earning two quick fouls in the first half, Tera Bjorklund was limited to just five points, but she would redeem herself in the second half. Wyoming jumped back into the lead to start the period, off tough inside play from Ann McColl.
"I thought they were going to miss quite a few shots," said Barry. "I thought that if we left them wide open, they were pretty good shooters and were going to bury them. But if we got a hand up in their face they were going to miss some shots. And it worked out."
The Cowgirls led by as many as three, and would have their last lead of the game at the 14:43 mark, 41-38. That's when Bjorklund took over, scoring five consecutive Buffalo baskets, stretching the CU lead to 11, 56-45. Tough play from sophomore Veronica Johns-Richardson, including a coast-to-coast layup and foul in addition to finding Bjorklund underneath added to CU's lead.
Again Wyoming fought back, forcing CU turnovers and converting on the offensive end. The Cowgirls cut CU's 12 point lead to five at the 2:35 mark on a jumper from Elliott, but that was as close as they would come. Kate Fagan and Lappe combined to go 8 for 8 from the free throw line in the last two minutes, giving CU the win 73-62.
"I think Lappe, Sabrina and Tera will be playing a lot of minutes this season," said Barry. "Sometimes their points will come in bunches depending on who is guarding them."
The Buffs return to action this Saturday, Dec. 7 at the Oakland Tribune Classic, hosted by the University of California. The Buffs will face Evansville at 2 p.m. MST, and then will play either Penn or Cal on Sunday, Dec. 8.
