Colorado University Athletics
Hall and Smith Score CU Athlete of the Week Honors
December 11, 2007 | General, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball
BOULDER-- Men's basketball guard Marcus Hall (senior) and women's basketball guard Bianca Smith (sophomore), were named University of Colorado Athletes of the Week for the week of December 3-9. This is Smith's first CU Athlete of the Week honor. Hall earned his second (consecutive) honor of the year and his fourth for his career.
Hall, a Houston, Texas (Jersey Village) native, scored 14 of his team-high 17 points in the second half as the Colorado (5-4) men's basketball team lost 73-64 at Wyoming on Saturday. Hall also chipped-in four assists and two steals. It's the second straight game Hall has led CU in scoring and fifth time, overall, this season. Despite making only one field goal in the first half, Hall led a CU charge rallying from a 20-point halftime deficit with a season-best 44 second half points. Hall made five field goals that included a pair of 3-pointers. The Buffs were able to cut its deficit to three points with under a minute to play, however the Cowboys made all eight of their free throws.
Smith, a Missouri City, Texas (Bellaire) native, helped lead Colorado to a 2-0 record this week with both wins coming against ranked opponents as they beat No.21 Wyoming 69-55 and No.20 Vanderbilt 62-51. She shot 5-of-8 from the floor, including 4-of-7 from three point range against Wyoming to record 16 points; she also dished out three assists. In Saturday's win at Vanderbilt, she shot 7-of-14 from the floor and 4-of-8 from three point range to record 22 points; she chipped in three rebounds in the game. The Wyoming win marked the first win over a ranked opponent in 24 tries, as the last time CU beat a ranked opponent was Jan. 7, 2004. The win over Vanderbilt marked the first time the women's basketball team has beaten ranked teams in back-to-back contests since the 2002 season, and the first time they beat a ranked opponent on the road while there were not ranked since Feb. 26, 1997.
No other athletes were nominated for this week's award.
