Colorado
2-2
LSU
7-0
NO. 2 LSU TOPS COLORADO FOR COORS CLASSIC TITLE
November 27, 2004 | Women's Basketball
BOULDER -- Seimone Augustus had 15 points and six assists and Sylvia Fowles scored 16 points to lead No. 2 LSU to a 75-44 victory over Colorado in the championship game of the Coors Classic Saturday night.
Augustus, who earned tournament MVP honors, finished 7-of-14 and scored in double figures for the 33rd straight game for LSU (7-0).
The Tigers held Colorado to 24 percent shooting and without a basket for 13 minutes. Anna Nedovic led Colorado (2-2) with eight points. The Buffaloes had 23 turnovers.
LSU used a pair of 7-0 runs and a late surge to lead 34-19 at the half. Augustus, who had 15 points at the break, hit a short jumper to put the Tigers up 17-7 and after Kara Richards scored for Colorado, four different Tigers scored to extend the lead to 24-9.
Colorado went on a 7-0 run of its own while Augustus took a short break and when Nedovic converted a three-point play, the Buffaloes were within 26-18. Augustus returned and scored the next six points.
LSU stepped up its defensive pressure in the second half, forcing six turnovers and holding Colorado without a point for nearly eight minutes. Fowles scored four points during a 13-0 run to extend the lead to 47-19 before Nedovic's free throw with 12:04 remaining.
“Defensively we had some stretches where we played well, but our offense cost us the game," CU head coach Ceal Barry said. "We had too many turnovers, and LSU's defense took us out of our comfort zone. Their size, speed and quickness were too much for us. In the second half we just lost our heart.”
Colorado, which was held without a field goal over the final 5:13 of the first half, didn't convert another until 8:13 left in the game on Nedovic's short jumper. The Buffaloes were held to a school-record low 24 percent from the field (12-for-50).
Fowles joined Augustus from LSU on the All-Tournament team. Also named to the All-Tournament team were Richards from Colorado, Laura Harper from Maryland and Karen Habrukowich from Pennsylvania.
Colorado will travel to play Wyoming on Wednesday, Dec. 1, at 7 p.m. in Laramie.
