Colorado University Athletics
Colorado
7-4
Dayton
6-5
Buffs Fall To Dayton In Women Of Troy Consolation
December 19, 2010 | Women's Basketball
LOS ANGELES-Colorado senior Brittany Spears had 22 points and 12 rebounds but cold shooting once again doomed the Buffaloes as the Dayton Flyers captured the Women of Troy Tournament consolation game 70-50 Sunday afternoon at the Galen Center.
The Buffaloes (7-4) shot just 26 percent (18-of-70) and scored a season-low 50 points, falling in consecutive games for the first time this year.
Spears, who notched her fourth double-double of the season, was CU's only player in double digits. She wasn't immune from CU's shooting struggles, hitting only 6-of-23 attempts, and 4-of-14 from 3-point range.
Spears did become the third player in team history to reach 1,700 points and 800 career rebounds, currently standing at 1,716 and 804 respectively.
"We didn't come out ready to go and Dayton took it to us," CU head coach Linda Lappe said. "We have to learn from it. We pretty much started and played for 40 minutes how we ended yesterday. We have to be mentally strong enough to bounce back."
Colorado missed its first six shots, including three from 3-point range. Add in three turnovers and Dayton had an 8-0 early lead. Chucky Jeffery got CU on the board with a running jumper at the 15 minute, 28 second mark of the first half.
Dayton extended its lead to 17-2 before the Buffaloes scored again. CU had eight early turnovers and made just 1-of-9 before a Julie Seabrook layup at 11:47.
Spears began to find her shot with a 3-pointer with 9:32 left in the half. She added a pair of free throws after getting fouled on an offensive rebound, cutting the Dayton lead to 19-9. Patrice Lalor then scored six straight points for Dayton to push the Flyer lead back up to 25-9.
The Buffaloes shot just 16 percent in the first half as Dayton led 29-16 at the break.
"I thought we had some great shots on the outside and they didn't fall early and we let that affect us for the rest of the game," Lappe said. "As good as our focus was last Wednesday (against Colorado State) I thought it was equally as bad, this whole weekend and particularly tonight."
Colorado was able to close the gap to single digits by scoring the first five points of the second half. Jeffery scored on a layup in transition and Britney Blythe hit a 3-pointer as the Dayton lead was down to 29-21 with 18:40 left.
Dayton then went on a 9-0 run and kept its lead above double-digits the rest of the way. The Flyers were the first team to outrebound CU this year and did it in dominating fashion, 59-45.
"Dayton was ready," Lappe said. "They outhustled us in every facet of the game, rebounds, turnovers, ripping balls out of our hands. Over the break we've got to get a lot better."
Colorado will take an 11-day break and return to action on Thursday, Dec. 30, as the Buffaloes will host Colgate at 7 p.m. at the Coors Events Center.
