Saturday, November 25
Boulder, Colo.
2:30 PM
Colorado
5-1
76
vs
61
George Mason
6-2
1
2
3
4
F
George Mason
17
18
20
6
61
Colorado
22
14
24
16
76
Photo by: Jivan West
Leonard Scores 1,000th Point As CU Rolls Past GMU In Championship Game
November 25, 2017 | Women's Basketball
BOULDER – Kennedy Leonard scored her 1,000th career point as Colorado cruised past George Mason 76-61 on Saturday to win the Rocky Mountain Hoops Classic at the Coors Events Center. The Buffs improved to 5-1 this season with their fourth straight win, while GMU snapped a six-game winning streak to drop to 6-2 this season.
Leonard was named tournament MVP and freshman Annika Jank was also named to the all-tournament team.
STAT LEADERS: Leonard had a season and game-high 26 points, shooting 8-of-16 from the floor and 8-of-10 at the line, while dishing out eight assists. Jank had her second double-double of the season with 13 points and 13 rebounds, while blocking four shots. Alexis Robinson joined those two players in double figures with 10 points. Aubrey Knight had eight points and Zoe Correal had six.
GMU's Natalie Butler had 17 points and 17 rebounds, while teammate Jacy Bolton matched her scoring with 17 points as well.
HOW IT HAPPENED: CU shot 10-of-15 from the floor in the first quarter to lead 22-17 after the first break. Leonard buried a 3-pointer with 7:25 left in the quarter and then scored her 1,000th and 1,001st points on a reverse layup with 4:34 remaining in the quarter.
The Patriots pulled back into the game in the second quarter, opening the period on an 8-0 run to take a 25-22 lead just three minutes in. CU pulled back ahead for a 36-35 lead at halftime.
The third quarter remained tight with neither team leading by more than four points. CU used a 13-2 run from the end of the third quarter through the midway point of the fourth to build a 69-57 lead.
CU outscored the Patriots 16-6 in the fourth quarter, holding GMU to just 1-of-14 (.071) from the floor.
Leonard had 17 points in the second half to help seal the win.
KEY STATISTICS: CU outrebounded GMU 49-39 and outshot the Patriots 45.3 percent to 32.4 percent. GMU had outrebounded the Buffs 21-17 in the first half, but Colorado regrouped at halftime and held a 32-18 edge in the second half. The Buffs also scored 38 of their points in the paint, their second-highest total this season.
NOTES: Leonard went over 1,000 points for her career with a reverse layup at the 4:34 mark of the first quarter, becoming the 30th player in CU history with 1,000 points and tying her for the fifth-fastest to reach that total in just 69 games ... it was her 19th career 20-point game and second this season ... her eight assists matched a season high and her 26 points passed her previous high this season of 24 ... Jank recorded her second double-double in her sixth career game ... her 13 rebounds were the most for a CU freshman since Arielle Roberson had 13 on Feb. 22, 2013 against Washington State ... CU outrebounded its opponent for the fourth consecutive game.
UP NEXT: CU will host North Dakota State at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.
POSTGAME QUOTES:
JR Payne, head coach
General
"I am excited. That was a great win. I told George Mason's coach [Nyla Milleson] before the game, in her fourth year, that what she has built with her program is exactly what we are trying to build here at Colorado – the culture of toughness, aggressiveness, and fearlessness. That is a really good team. I love that team. I think they are going to have a great season. It is a real testament to our ability to play an experienced, veteran group like that – to play as tough and physical as we did. I was worried about the rebounding before the game. George Mason is plus ten on their rebound effort every night. For us to be down a little bit and come back to beat them on the boards was incredible. This was a really great win for us against a very good team."
On correcting the rebounding effort in the second half
"We might've talked about that and getting to the free throw line – just an overall more aggressive mindset. At halftime, they had ten offensive rebounds. We were down four on the glass and we hadn't taken a single free throw. So our focus was on rebounding and being aggressive offensively. The team really took it to heart and adjusted."
On Kennedy Leonard's 1000 point milestone and another double-double from Annika Jank
Tonight was really awesome for Kennedy [Leonard] to have that. I knew she was four points away late in our game yesterday. I thought about putting her in. But I thought, 'Forget it. She will get it tomorrow.' It is an incredible testament not just to the great player that Kennedy is but the work ethic. Kennedy is not this good by accident. She is this good because she works harder than most. I am really proud of what she accomplished tonight. I know for her, she probably really doesn't care. She is just excited we got the win. Annika [Jank] is no different. Annika is learning from Kennedy from a work standpoint. The double-doubles that Annika keeps getting is all effort. It is effort, tenacity, a desire to not be boxed out and it shows in the stat sheet. So I am really proud of everyone on our team. These two [Annika Jank, Kennedy Leonard] had a great night tonight."
On preparation of multiple teams during a tournament
"We prepared full scouting reports, video clips, everything for all three teams. We had our team watch yesterday. I think it is good for us to learn how to watch a game and live scout. Our team stayed and watched the entire game yesterday. As soon as the game ended, we went straight to film. The scouts were handed out. The clips were watched. We started mentally preparing. Yesterday was a really long day. We were here at 7:30 a.m. to watch film. We didn't leave the gym until almost 6 p.m. So it was really great mental stamina and focus on their part. It is different. You kind of just fully prepare for everybody because you never know."
Annika Jank, freshman
On improved rebounding in second half
"I tried to make every effort to box out my person. Coach said in the locker room, 'no more offensive boards,' so I tried to make that my thing, not to let my girl get any more offensive rebounds."
Kennedy Leonard, junior
On reaching the career 1,000-point scorer milestone
"I just knew about it because everybody was talking about it, I saw it in some articles. It doesn't really mean that much to me. It is what it is, it's good to get but what's more important to me is leading the team and getting wins, and trying to play the best basketball we can."
On three-pointer that put the game out of reach
"I'm a competitor, so to be able to come down and hit a shot like that with the shot clock winding down and Coach T (Toriano Towns) yelling to get the basket, me just shooting it and it going in, it's just fun. I love basketball, and to be able to go out there and play with people who I care about and play in front of people who want to watch us play is exciting. It was fun to hit that shot."
On finishing through contact
"I think only had one offensive foul today which is pretty good, I put that down as a win. Being able to take an extra dribble and get to the rim, I think it has a better chance of falling. The girl was 6-5 but she wasn't trying to swat anything out of the gym so to be able to get in close and get the contact and finishing, maybe they won't call it, maybe they will, but to be able to see it go in was definitely a bonus."
Fastest To 1,000 Points at CU:
Kennedy Leonard (Nov. 25, 2017 – 69th game)
All-Tournament Team:
Sara Rhine, Drake
Jacy Bolton, George Mason
Annika Jank, Colorado
Natalie Butler, George Mason
Kennedy Leonard, Colorado (MVP)
Leonard was named tournament MVP and freshman Annika Jank was also named to the all-tournament team.
STAT LEADERS: Leonard had a season and game-high 26 points, shooting 8-of-16 from the floor and 8-of-10 at the line, while dishing out eight assists. Jank had her second double-double of the season with 13 points and 13 rebounds, while blocking four shots. Alexis Robinson joined those two players in double figures with 10 points. Aubrey Knight had eight points and Zoe Correal had six.
GMU's Natalie Butler had 17 points and 17 rebounds, while teammate Jacy Bolton matched her scoring with 17 points as well.
HOW IT HAPPENED: CU shot 10-of-15 from the floor in the first quarter to lead 22-17 after the first break. Leonard buried a 3-pointer with 7:25 left in the quarter and then scored her 1,000th and 1,001st points on a reverse layup with 4:34 remaining in the quarter.
The Patriots pulled back into the game in the second quarter, opening the period on an 8-0 run to take a 25-22 lead just three minutes in. CU pulled back ahead for a 36-35 lead at halftime.
The third quarter remained tight with neither team leading by more than four points. CU used a 13-2 run from the end of the third quarter through the midway point of the fourth to build a 69-57 lead.
CU outscored the Patriots 16-6 in the fourth quarter, holding GMU to just 1-of-14 (.071) from the floor.
Leonard had 17 points in the second half to help seal the win.
KEY STATISTICS: CU outrebounded GMU 49-39 and outshot the Patriots 45.3 percent to 32.4 percent. GMU had outrebounded the Buffs 21-17 in the first half, but Colorado regrouped at halftime and held a 32-18 edge in the second half. The Buffs also scored 38 of their points in the paint, their second-highest total this season.
NOTES: Leonard went over 1,000 points for her career with a reverse layup at the 4:34 mark of the first quarter, becoming the 30th player in CU history with 1,000 points and tying her for the fifth-fastest to reach that total in just 69 games ... it was her 19th career 20-point game and second this season ... her eight assists matched a season high and her 26 points passed her previous high this season of 24 ... Jank recorded her second double-double in her sixth career game ... her 13 rebounds were the most for a CU freshman since Arielle Roberson had 13 on Feb. 22, 2013 against Washington State ... CU outrebounded its opponent for the fourth consecutive game.
UP NEXT: CU will host North Dakota State at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.
POSTGAME QUOTES:
JR Payne, head coach
General
"I am excited. That was a great win. I told George Mason's coach [Nyla Milleson] before the game, in her fourth year, that what she has built with her program is exactly what we are trying to build here at Colorado – the culture of toughness, aggressiveness, and fearlessness. That is a really good team. I love that team. I think they are going to have a great season. It is a real testament to our ability to play an experienced, veteran group like that – to play as tough and physical as we did. I was worried about the rebounding before the game. George Mason is plus ten on their rebound effort every night. For us to be down a little bit and come back to beat them on the boards was incredible. This was a really great win for us against a very good team."
On correcting the rebounding effort in the second half
"We might've talked about that and getting to the free throw line – just an overall more aggressive mindset. At halftime, they had ten offensive rebounds. We were down four on the glass and we hadn't taken a single free throw. So our focus was on rebounding and being aggressive offensively. The team really took it to heart and adjusted."
On Kennedy Leonard's 1000 point milestone and another double-double from Annika Jank
Tonight was really awesome for Kennedy [Leonard] to have that. I knew she was four points away late in our game yesterday. I thought about putting her in. But I thought, 'Forget it. She will get it tomorrow.' It is an incredible testament not just to the great player that Kennedy is but the work ethic. Kennedy is not this good by accident. She is this good because she works harder than most. I am really proud of what she accomplished tonight. I know for her, she probably really doesn't care. She is just excited we got the win. Annika [Jank] is no different. Annika is learning from Kennedy from a work standpoint. The double-doubles that Annika keeps getting is all effort. It is effort, tenacity, a desire to not be boxed out and it shows in the stat sheet. So I am really proud of everyone on our team. These two [Annika Jank, Kennedy Leonard] had a great night tonight."
On preparation of multiple teams during a tournament
"We prepared full scouting reports, video clips, everything for all three teams. We had our team watch yesterday. I think it is good for us to learn how to watch a game and live scout. Our team stayed and watched the entire game yesterday. As soon as the game ended, we went straight to film. The scouts were handed out. The clips were watched. We started mentally preparing. Yesterday was a really long day. We were here at 7:30 a.m. to watch film. We didn't leave the gym until almost 6 p.m. So it was really great mental stamina and focus on their part. It is different. You kind of just fully prepare for everybody because you never know."
Annika Jank, freshman
On improved rebounding in second half
"I tried to make every effort to box out my person. Coach said in the locker room, 'no more offensive boards,' so I tried to make that my thing, not to let my girl get any more offensive rebounds."
Kennedy Leonard, junior
On reaching the career 1,000-point scorer milestone
"I just knew about it because everybody was talking about it, I saw it in some articles. It doesn't really mean that much to me. It is what it is, it's good to get but what's more important to me is leading the team and getting wins, and trying to play the best basketball we can."
On three-pointer that put the game out of reach
"I'm a competitor, so to be able to come down and hit a shot like that with the shot clock winding down and Coach T (Toriano Towns) yelling to get the basket, me just shooting it and it going in, it's just fun. I love basketball, and to be able to go out there and play with people who I care about and play in front of people who want to watch us play is exciting. It was fun to hit that shot."
On finishing through contact
"I think only had one offensive foul today which is pretty good, I put that down as a win. Being able to take an extra dribble and get to the rim, I think it has a better chance of falling. The girl was 6-5 but she wasn't trying to swat anything out of the gym so to be able to get in close and get the contact and finishing, maybe they won't call it, maybe they will, but to be able to see it go in was definitely a bonus."
Fastest To 1,000 Points at CU:
- Lisa VanGoor (Jan. 23, 1982 – 55th game)
- Brittany Spears (March 12, 2009 – 63rd game)
- Shelley Sheetz (Dec. 18, 1993 – 67th game)
- Jackie McFarland (Dec. 13, 2006 – 68th game)
- Tracy Tripp (Dec. 30, 1987 – 69th game)
Kennedy Leonard (Nov. 25, 2017 – 69th game)
All-Tournament Team:
Sara Rhine, Drake
Jacy Bolton, George Mason
Annika Jank, Colorado
Natalie Butler, George Mason
Kennedy Leonard, Colorado (MVP)
Team Stats
MASON
COLO
FG%
.324
.453
3FG%
.208
.278
FT%
.714
.765
RB
39
49
TO
13
17
STL
6
4
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
26
FGM
8
3FGM
2
FTM
8
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
C
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
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