Colorado University Athletics
Saturday, December 17
Itta Bena, Miss.
2:00 PM
Colorado
10-0
76
at
64
Mississippi Valley State
3-6
1
2
3
4
F
COLO
16
16
22
22
76
Mississippi Valley State
21
9
17
17
64
Alexis Robinson
Photo by: Robert Trubia/Northern Colorado Athletics
CU Overcomes Rough Start To Improve To 10-0 With Road Win
December 17, 2016 | Women's Basketball
ITTA BENA, Miss. - 15th-ranked Colorado overcame a slow start to hold off Mississippi Valley State 76-64 on Saturday here at R.W. Harrison Complex in Mississippi. CU improved to 10-0 this season with the win.
Sophomore guards Alexis Robinson and Kennedy Leonard each scored 20 points and Leonard hit 15-of-20 at the free throw line, tying the school record for free throws made and breaking the record for attempts in a game. She tied Jackie McFarland's record from 2008 with 15 makes and surpassed LeaAnn Banks' previous mark of 18 attempts, set in 1984.
HOW IT HAPPENED: CU came out slow in the first quarter, getting outrebounded 14-8 and trailed the Devilettes 21-16 at the end of the period. It was just the second time this season the Buffs trailed after the first quarter.
The Buffs took advantage of MVSU's aggressiveness and got the Devilettes into foul trouble early, converting 6-of-10 at the line to overcome a seven-point deficit and take a 32-30 lead into halftime.
CU opened the second half on a 9-1 run to lead 41-31 lead with 6:54 remaining in the quarter on a 3-pointer by Leonard.
In the fourth quarter, MVSU pulled within four points with 7:29 remaining, but that was the closest the Devilettes would come the rest of the game. Leonard made 9-of-12 at the line in the final 3:01 to secure the win.
TURNING POINT: Colorado trailed Mississippi Valley State 23-16 early in the second quarter, but bounced back to outscore the Devilettes 16-7 the rest of the period. CU never trailed after tying the game at 25-25 with 2:44 remaining in the half.
CU STANDOUTS: Leonard and Robinson were key contributors in more ways than just scoring. In addition to hitting 8-of-16 from the floor, Robinson had five rebounds and three steals. Leonard added six steals and two rebounds. Ariana Freeman led all players off the bench with 15 points and seven rebounds. Zoe Correal nearly had a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds, shooting 5-of-7 from the floor.
KEY STATISTICS: Colorado forced 32 turnovers, a season high, and had a +8 turnover margin by committing 24. CU's 19 steals tied a season high. The Buffs shot 47 percent from the floor, but just 3-of-14 from 3-point range. Both teams also combined for 57 fouls and 68 free throw attempts.
WHAT IT MEANS: The Buffs are 10-0 for just the fifth time in school history and are 3-0 on the road after entering the season with 14-game road losing streak, including going 0-13 last season.
NOTEWORTHY: Leonard's free throw records are the key notes in the game, as is the 10-0 start.
QUOTEWORTHY: "Coach just mentioned how a championship team comes in and handles business. And I think winning the game shows that we have some toughness, but coming in and not handling business like we should have shows that we need to get more mentally tough every day." -- Alexis Robinson on the team's mental toughness.
NEXT UP: Colorado hosts Wyoming at 7 p.m. on Wednesday in the final non-conference game of the season. The first 150 fans will receive a free CU ugly sweater t-shirt in the spirit of the holidays. Santa will also be in attendance from 6-6:45 p.m. on the Coors Events Center concourse.
Postgame Quotes
JR Payne, head coach
On the play of Mississippi Valley State
"They were great, they were fantastic. They're athletic, they're aggressive. They're undersized, but they don't let that hinder them. They went right at us and I love that because it helps prepare us for future athletic teams. And it also is a great reminder to our team that you need to be ready to lace it up and ready to go from the opening tip. No matter where you're playing, who you're playing, whatever adversity, we've got to be ready."
On the slow start and overcoming that
"We didn't totally look like we were ready to play. I thought they came out and they were more aggressive and they beating us on the glass and to me, that shows a team that really wasn't ready from the tip. That makes it even better that we were able to dig deep and fight back. I don't think our team really felt like we were out of it, but it took us a minute, which we can't do moving forward with our future opponents."
On playing on the road and how the road environment at MVSU helps prepare the team
"It's a great preparation in a lot of ways. It's on the road, you face adversity from various factors, you're down, but then we stepped up. Kennedy knocked down big free throws late. Lexi had some big plays at the basket late. So when it really mattered, I thought we dug deep and finished the way we needed to."
On positives from the defense
"Definitely forcing 32 turnovers is a huge positive. Nineteen steals is a great positive. We got to the free throw line a ton, which was a big positive for our team. We don't typically get there that much. And I just really love that we stuck together when we were down and were getting beat, we never splintered. We had each other's back, no matter who came into the game. They were aggressive, they did their job. I'm really proud of the togetherness tonight.
Alexis Robinson, sophomore, guard
On coming into a tough road environment and getting a win
"It was a really tough game. We faced quite a bit of adversity, probably the most adversity we've faced all season. It was just a tough win, an ugly win, but a win is a win. That's all that matters."
On the team's mental toughness in a tough game
"Coach just mentioned how a championship team comes in and handles business. And I think winning the game shows that we have some toughness, but coming in and not handling business like we should have shows that we need to get more mentally tough every day."
Sophomore guards Alexis Robinson and Kennedy Leonard each scored 20 points and Leonard hit 15-of-20 at the free throw line, tying the school record for free throws made and breaking the record for attempts in a game. She tied Jackie McFarland's record from 2008 with 15 makes and surpassed LeaAnn Banks' previous mark of 18 attempts, set in 1984.
HOW IT HAPPENED: CU came out slow in the first quarter, getting outrebounded 14-8 and trailed the Devilettes 21-16 at the end of the period. It was just the second time this season the Buffs trailed after the first quarter.
The Buffs took advantage of MVSU's aggressiveness and got the Devilettes into foul trouble early, converting 6-of-10 at the line to overcome a seven-point deficit and take a 32-30 lead into halftime.
CU opened the second half on a 9-1 run to lead 41-31 lead with 6:54 remaining in the quarter on a 3-pointer by Leonard.
In the fourth quarter, MVSU pulled within four points with 7:29 remaining, but that was the closest the Devilettes would come the rest of the game. Leonard made 9-of-12 at the line in the final 3:01 to secure the win.
TURNING POINT: Colorado trailed Mississippi Valley State 23-16 early in the second quarter, but bounced back to outscore the Devilettes 16-7 the rest of the period. CU never trailed after tying the game at 25-25 with 2:44 remaining in the half.
CU STANDOUTS: Leonard and Robinson were key contributors in more ways than just scoring. In addition to hitting 8-of-16 from the floor, Robinson had five rebounds and three steals. Leonard added six steals and two rebounds. Ariana Freeman led all players off the bench with 15 points and seven rebounds. Zoe Correal nearly had a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds, shooting 5-of-7 from the floor.
KEY STATISTICS: Colorado forced 32 turnovers, a season high, and had a +8 turnover margin by committing 24. CU's 19 steals tied a season high. The Buffs shot 47 percent from the floor, but just 3-of-14 from 3-point range. Both teams also combined for 57 fouls and 68 free throw attempts.
WHAT IT MEANS: The Buffs are 10-0 for just the fifth time in school history and are 3-0 on the road after entering the season with 14-game road losing streak, including going 0-13 last season.
NOTEWORTHY: Leonard's free throw records are the key notes in the game, as is the 10-0 start.
QUOTEWORTHY: "Coach just mentioned how a championship team comes in and handles business. And I think winning the game shows that we have some toughness, but coming in and not handling business like we should have shows that we need to get more mentally tough every day." -- Alexis Robinson on the team's mental toughness.
NEXT UP: Colorado hosts Wyoming at 7 p.m. on Wednesday in the final non-conference game of the season. The first 150 fans will receive a free CU ugly sweater t-shirt in the spirit of the holidays. Santa will also be in attendance from 6-6:45 p.m. on the Coors Events Center concourse.
Postgame Quotes
JR Payne, head coach
On the play of Mississippi Valley State
"They were great, they were fantastic. They're athletic, they're aggressive. They're undersized, but they don't let that hinder them. They went right at us and I love that because it helps prepare us for future athletic teams. And it also is a great reminder to our team that you need to be ready to lace it up and ready to go from the opening tip. No matter where you're playing, who you're playing, whatever adversity, we've got to be ready."
On the slow start and overcoming that
"We didn't totally look like we were ready to play. I thought they came out and they were more aggressive and they beating us on the glass and to me, that shows a team that really wasn't ready from the tip. That makes it even better that we were able to dig deep and fight back. I don't think our team really felt like we were out of it, but it took us a minute, which we can't do moving forward with our future opponents."
On playing on the road and how the road environment at MVSU helps prepare the team
"It's a great preparation in a lot of ways. It's on the road, you face adversity from various factors, you're down, but then we stepped up. Kennedy knocked down big free throws late. Lexi had some big plays at the basket late. So when it really mattered, I thought we dug deep and finished the way we needed to."
On positives from the defense
"Definitely forcing 32 turnovers is a huge positive. Nineteen steals is a great positive. We got to the free throw line a ton, which was a big positive for our team. We don't typically get there that much. And I just really love that we stuck together when we were down and were getting beat, we never splintered. We had each other's back, no matter who came into the game. They were aggressive, they did their job. I'm really proud of the togetherness tonight.
Alexis Robinson, sophomore, guard
On coming into a tough road environment and getting a win
"It was a really tough game. We faced quite a bit of adversity, probably the most adversity we've faced all season. It was just a tough win, an ugly win, but a win is a win. That's all that matters."
On the team's mental toughness in a tough game
"Coach just mentioned how a championship team comes in and handles business. And I think winning the game shows that we have some toughness, but coming in and not handling business like we should have shows that we need to get more mentally tough every day."
Team Stats
COLO
MVSW
FG%
.471
.426
3FG%
.214
.375
FT%
.676
.677
RB
32
34
TO
24
32
STL
19
11
Game Leaders
Pts
20
FGM
8
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
20
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
15
Pts
15
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
7
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
C
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
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