BUFFS RUN EXHIBITION TABLE WITH WIN

Friday, November 7

Boulder, Colo.

7 p.m.

Colorado

South Dakota State (Exhibition)

TERA BJORKLUND NAMED TO JOHN R. WOODEN AWARD PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN TEAM

November 07, 2003 | Women's Basketball

By: CUBuffs.com

BOULDER - Behind Tera Bjorklund's 32 points and 10 rebounds, the Colorado Buffaloes upended the defending Division II national champions South Dakota State Jackrabbits 82-66 Friday night at the Coors Events Center to finish the exhibition season 2-0 after Tuesday's win over Metro State.

“This game was everything we expected it to be. They were able to compete just the way we thought they would,” Colorado head coach Ceal Barry said. “When they go Division I they will be able to compete very well. The way they played tonight, they could be a tournament team, and that is a top 64 team.”

Amber Metoyer, who missed Tuesday's game against Metro State, contributed 15 points and five rebounds, while South Dakota State had three players score in double figures, led by Megan Vogel's 21 points.

The Jackrabbits kept the game close for the first 33 minutes and were down 67-60 with 7:23 left in the game, but Colorado ended the game with a 19-6 run.

Colorado came out hitting 56 percent from the floor in the first half, but finished with a 48 percent shooting percentage. After hitting seven three-pointers in the first half, Colorado held South Dakota State to just one in the second.

The Buffaloes will begin the 2003-04 season when they host the WBCA Classic. The action tips off at 6 p.m. Nov. 14 with No. 16 Notre Dame/Auburn and No. 20 Colorado hosting Old Dominion at 8:15 p.m.

Excerpts from the post-game press conference follow:

Colorado Head Coach Ceal Barry

GENERAL: “This game was everything we expected it to be. They were able to compete just the way we thought they would. They shot the ball extremely well in the first half and were able to run their half-court offense effectively. They remind me of Iowa State, so this was a good test for our team. It was tough for us to get our offensive rhythm with the way that they were controlling the ball in the first half. They played a very good game of high-low post and they were also able to go out in transition and run the ball well.”

ON EXPECTATIONS: “When I saw them on tape I thought they would be a top (D I) 100 team. When they go Division I they will be able to compete very well. The way they played tonight, they could be a tournament team, and that is a top 64 team.”

“They are very well coached and they play really hard.”

ON EMILY WANER PLAYING TIME: “I was playing Emily because I thought she was playing well. I think Maria stops the ball better in transition but Emily gets the ball to the post and to Tera, which is very important to me.”

ON TERA BJORKLUND PLAYING TIME: “I wanted to play Tera as much as we had to. Because I have so many injuries, she's going to have to play more minutes than we originally thought. That is the reason that we condition so hard, so we can be prepared. It's her senior year so we want to play her as much as possible and I'm sure she wants to be on the court as well.”

Colorado Players

F AMBER METOYER

GENERAL: “They were very physical. I don't think we were prepared for them to be that physical as a Division II team. We just got physical right back. We kept our composure and kept working the ball around. We got the shots we wanted and the defense got out and in their face. At the end there, we were really surprised by the physical play and it wore us down.”

ON HER POSITION CHANGE: “I felt pretty confident being out there in the first minutes and after that charge, I knew I needed to step up. The first minutes were different than my regular starts, but I felt comfortable after I got into a rhythm after I hit my first basket. It's a different ball game, you back is to the basket so it feels a lot different. Hopefully I can get some more time in there and become more comfortable.”

C TERA BJORKLUND

GENERAL: “I knew coming into it that it was going to be a challenge. It's a lot different than the game on Tuesday and it was a good game for us offensively and defensively. We were pretty confident in the first half and they stuck with us and we had to adjust. They were trying to push me high side and make me adjust and I did.”

ON PREPARATION: “This was a much closer game and it helped us a lot. Mentally and physically, we have a ways to go, but it will eventually grow. This game really helped us and now we have a week to prepare for our season.”

G EMILY WANER

GENERAL: “I'm in shape enough to do it, but they are a tough team. They came out hard and we kept fighting. When I went out in the second half, I just wanted to pick up the energy and intensity. When you are playing the defending Division II champs, you have to be prepared. I think that we were all prepared tonight.”