Colorado University Athletics
Colorado
12-11,3-7Big 12
Texas Tech
17-7, 4-6Big 12
Buffs' Early Miscues Aid Lady Raiders' Rout
February 12, 2011 | Women's Basketball, B.G. Brooks
BOULDER - Six days after playing what first-year coach Linda Lappe had called their most complete game, the Colorado Buffaloes traveled in a completely different direction on Saturday.
Desperate to break a six-game losing streak, Texas Tech apparently visited the Coors Events Center at the perfect time, rolling over error-prone CU, 72-44.
The Buffs submitted a season low in points and a season high in turnovers, with their 28 the most since 34 at Texas on Jan. 13, 2007. CU's turnover total was four times its number of assists (seven) and almost doubled its made field goals (15).
"We definitely got outplayed for most of the game," Lappe said. "They were physical, they were quick. Our turnovers were obviously a huge part of the game; we just didn't handle the ball like we needed to."
The Buffs dropped to 12-11 overall and 3-7 in the Big 12 Conference, while the Lady Raiders - after opening the season 16-1 - improved to 17-7, 4-6. CU lost for only the fourth time in 16 home games, but fell for the 18th consecutive time to a Big 12 South opponent.
Scoring 12 points, senior Brittany Spears was the only CU player to reach double figures. She became only the second Buff player to score 400 points in four consecutive seasons, joining Shelley Sheetz (1991-95). Spears also had 11 rebounds, giving her 30 double-doubles in her career.
Tech, meanwhile, was topped by sophomore Casey Morris with 19. She was one of three Lady Raiders in double figures.
Most of this story was told in the first 20 minutes: At halftime the Buffs' point total exceeded their turnover total by two - 21 to 19 - and the Lady Raiders were up 37-21. Tech was opportunistic, scoring 21 points off those 19 CU miscues, which were the most in a half since the Buffs had the same number against Nevada on Nov. 24, 2006.
"We were throwing bad passes . . . just not clicking," CU guard Chucky Jeffery said. "We just weren't on the same page . . . it's hard trying to break a press when everybody isn't on the same page."
CU's already thin roster was reduced to eight by the absence of senior guard Chelsea Dale, who had not received clearance to play after exhibiting concussion symptoms following the 70-45 win over Nebraska on Sunday, Feb. 6.
Not having played since then, the Buffs opened either rusty or out of sorts due to the Lady Raiders' withering pressure.
Lappe said the layoff wasn't the culprit: "I thought we had three really great practices . . . but you can't simulate Tech. I give all credit to my assistants (for aiding in CU's practices), but they can't provide the speed, size and strength - and that's where our depth really hurts us, not having 15 players (and) not having a strong second five to really get after your first five."
The Lady Raiders, she added, "are quick, fast, strong and make up ground very fast . . . you can't be lackadaisical with the ball."
After falling behind 3-0, the Buffs finally got their first field goal - a three-pointer by Spears - at the 16:29 mark, then got another pair of treys on consecutive possessions to go ahead 9-3.
Then the turnover plague, induced by Tech's pressure, hit. Lappe said her team alternated between being "too tentative" and "too passive" against the Lady Raiders' full- and three-quarters court press.
Tech Coach Kristy Curry said her team had "great ball pressure. We have great ball pressure, it makes everything else easy . . . we did a great job of identifying their shooters and making sure we knew their tendencies. That was our best job all year of executing a game plan."
Seven minutes into the first half, CU had committed seven turnovers, with many more to follow. By intermission, the total had reached 19 and - no big surprise - the Buffs trailed by their largest margin of the half, 37-21.
Of CU's eight first-half field goals, five were three-pointers, which among other things was indicative of Tech's defense stifling CU's inside game. The Lady Raiders outscored the Buffs 16-6 in the paint in the first 20 minutes and got 11 points from their bench to the Buffs' three. Tech finished the game with a 28-18 advantage inside and scored 32 points off its opponents 28 miscues.
Tech shot 63.6 percent from the field in the first half, including 75 percent from beyond the three-point arc. CU managed 40 percent (50 percent on its treys), but that was hardly enough to compensate for its turnover total.
Things didn't improve in the second half.
At the 10:00 mark, Tech led 58-29 - and time was just one of many factors working against CU. The Lady Raiders' largest lead was 30 in the final 5:21.
The loss further reduced the Buffs' margin for error in their postseason pursuit. But Lappe wasn't in the mood to look into that crystal ball.
"We have to take care of business day-to-day . . . you can't talk about postseason as inconsistent as we are," she said.
The Buffs now face back-to-back road games - Wednesday at Kansas State, Saturday at Iowa State - before returning to the Events Center to play Oklahoma on Wednesday, Feb. 23.
Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU
