Colorado University Athletics
Colorado
4-1
Harvard
3-3
Buffs Capture Title On Jeffery's Last Second Shot
November 28, 2009 | Women's Basketball
BOULDER - Freshman guard Chucky Jeffery hit a driving layup with five seconds remaining to give Colorado the Omni Hotels Classic title with a 67-65 win over Harvard in the Championship game Saturday evening at the Coors Events/Conference Center.
After Harvard's Victoria Lippert sank two free throws to tie the game at 65-65 with 0:35 left, the Buffaloes put the ball in the hands of Jeffery for the final possession. Jeffery, who finished with 14 points, ran the clock down at the top and left of the 3-point arc and broke down the middle of the lane for the decisive score as the shot clock expired.
Harvard guard Brogan Berry raced down the court with the ball, but her 30-foot 3-pointer bounced off the front of the rim as Colorado improved to 4-1 overall for the first time since 2003-04.
"It's real exciting," Jeffery said. "Being a freshman and having the coaches trust me enough to put the ball in my hands to make the last shot feels real good. I'm so excited."
Jeffery's chance was born from a similar possession at the end of the first half. Leading 31-29, CU ran down the clock late in the first half where Jeffery was able to get into the paint to score to put CU up four with :07 left. However, she went too early, giving Harvard time to get set on the other end where Christine Matera connected on a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Despite going too early, CU head coach Kathy McConnell-Miller knew Jeffery was an option at the end.
"Why put the ball in a freshman's hands? The determining factor at that point was how Chucky handled that possession at the end of the first half; we had set it up for a drive and she had gone a little too early, but with that said she made it."
It was also the Harvard defense. The Crimson were clamping down on CU's outside shot, which had generated nine 3-point buckets during the game. Jeffery had also been able to get to the rim on three possessions before the final drive.
"At the end of the game we basically ran a variation of the play and at that time really dictated the time she went to the rim and had our two shooters spotted up waiting on her. She executed it and I'm proud of her.
Her shooters on the wings were captains Brittany Spears and Bianca Smith, and even though they didn't get the call on the final play, there wouldn't have been a final play for Jeffery if it wasn't for their strong performances.
Smith had a season-high 22 points off the bench, hitting 6-of-11 3-point shots. Spears recorded her third double-double in five games with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Jeffery, Smith and Spears were each named to the All-Tournament team. Spears, who had 20 points in Friday's game against Georgia Southern, was the Tournament MVP.
New Orleans defeated Georgia Southern 50-39 in Saturday's Consolation Game.
Harvard's Emma Markley, New Orleans' Brittany Helm and Georgia Southern's Carolyn Whitney round out the All-Tournament team. Markley led Harvard Saturday night with 24 points, on 10-of-15 shooting, and four blocks. Her 10 blocks over the two games, set a Classic record.
Colorado was fighting from behind all night. The Crimson led by as much as nine in both halves, while the Buffaloes' largest lead was four, right before the end of the first half.
Harvard led 46-37 with 14:35 remaining, when the Buffaloes, led by Smith tightened the game for good. Smith hit two of her six 3's to cut the Harvard advantage to 48-43.
Jackie Alemany made good on a long 3-pointer to put Harvard back up by six. Spears countered with a couple free throws and Harvard led 52-47 with 10:35 remaining.
The Buffaloes gobbled up that lead with a pair of 3-pointers. Freshman Meagan Malcolm-Peck hit the first one from the corner and Kelly Jo Mullaney hit one from the top of the key to give CU a 53-52 lead. The score stayed within four points for the rest of the way.
"I know coach doesn't really like these close games, but I think it's a positive that we can come out with a win in close games," Smith said. "That gives us the mental toughness that we can go into the Big 12 and if the game is close we have the confidence to come out with a victory."
Colorado returns to action on Wednesday, Dec. 2, as the Buffaloes host Denver at 7 p.m. at the Coors Events Center.
2009 Omni Hotels Classic
Friday, Nov. 27
Harvard 60, New Orleans 57
Colorado 62, Georgia Southern 50
Saturday, Nov. 29
Consolation: New Orleans 50, Georgia Southern 39
Championship: Colorado 67, Harvard 65
All-Tournament Team
Brittany Spears, 6-1, Jr., F, Colorado - MVP
Bianca Smith, 5-10, Sr., G, Colorado
Chucky Jeffery, 5-10, Fr., G, Colorado
Emma Markley, 6-3, Jr., F, Harvard
Brittany Helm, 5-8, Sr., G, New Orleans
Carolyn Whitney, 5-7, Jr., G, Georgia Southern
Overall Records
Colorado                               4-1                 New Orleans            3-2
Harvard                                 3-3                 Georgia Southern   1-4
Omni Hotels Classic Records Set
Team Game
Lowest Field Goal Percentage - .200 (12-of-60), Georgia Southern (vs. New Orleans)
Old Record: .240 (12-of-50), Colorado (vs. LSU), 2004
Individual Tournament
Blocks - 10, Emma Markley, Harvard
Old Record: Cassie Hager, Northern Iowa, 2005
Omni Hotels Classic Records Tied
Individual Game
Blocks - 6, Emma Markley, Harvard vs. New Orleans
Tied: Cassie Hager, Northern Iowa (vs. Colorado), 2005; Andrea Mangum, Providence (vs. Colorado), 1989
Team Game
Blocks - 10, Harvard vs. New Orleans
Tied: Maryland (vs. Penn), 2004
