Sunday, November 18
Boulder, Colo.
1:00 PM
Colorado
3-0
86
vs
74
North Carolina
3-1
1
2
3
4
F
North Carolina
19
22
15
18
74
Colorado
26
23
26
11
86
Photo by: Jivan West
Buffs Finish Off North Carolina, 86-74
November 18, 2018 | Women's Basketball
Colorado battles from behind in the win
BOULDER –The Colorado women's basketball team finished its season-opening homestand a perfect 3-0 on Sunday. The Buffaloes weathered an early storm to claim the 86-74 win over North Carolina at the CU Events Center.
STAT LEADERS: Colorado had four players finish in double figures. Sophomore Annika Jank led Colorado with 25 points, one off her career-high. She added nine rebounds and two assists. Senior Kennedy Leonard totaled 24 points, going 4-of-4 from long distance. She also handed out eight assists and grabbed five rebounds. Senior Alexis Robinson and freshman Emma Clarke each finished with 11 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED: North Carolina came out as the aggressors early. The Tar Heels jumped on the Buffs in the first three minutes, taking an 11-1 lead. The visitors started 5-of-8 from the field, forcing Colorado into an early timeout. Leonard hit CU's first field goal of the game, a 3-pointer, with 6:53 to go in the quarter. That was the spark the Buffs needed to get the offense going. CU countered with a 9-0 run climbing back into the contest at 11-10.
The Buffs defense held UNC to 1-for-12 from the field through the remainder of the first quarter. Colorado gained the lead, 15-13, with Leonard running the fast break. North Carolina tied it at 15 before Peanut Tuitele put the Buffs up for good, 17-15. Leonard finished 3-of-3 in the quarter with nine points. CU's offense continued to heat up, outscoring UNC 25-8 in the final 6:55 of the quarter.
Colorado's advantage grew to 29-19 at the start of the second thanks to an Alexis Robinson 3-ball. North Carolina battled back with a 7-0 run, tightening the CU lead to 32-30. The Buffs did not flinch, going on a 14-5 run to push the lead back to double-figures, 46-35. North Carolina hit a 3-pointer in the in the final seconds of the quarter, slimming the CU lead to 49-41 at the break.
CU put the game out of reach in the third quarter, shooting 58.8 percent (10-17) in the period. Jank scored seven points on 3-of-4 shooting. The CU bench outscored UNC 8-0 in the quarter with contributions from Clarke and Lesila Finau. A Clarke 3 with 3:19 to play in the quarter gave the Buffs their largest lead of the game, 71-51. Finau closed the quarter for CU, helping Colorado to a 75-56 lead.
Jank scored seven more points in the fourth, including a 3-pointer that put Colorado up 80-63. North Carolina outscored CU 18-11 in the final quarter, slimming the deficit down to 12 at the final horn.
KEY STATISTICS: Colorado got out and ran on the Tar Heels. The Buffs outscored North Carolina, 22-4, on the fast break.
NOTES: Colorado improves to 2-1 all-time against North Carolina and 2-0 in Boulder…the Buffs have now won their last five games dating back to last season at the CU Events Center…CU has now beaten an ACC team in back-to-back years, having won at Miami (Fla.) last season…Colorado totaled season-highs in points (86), field goals made (30), field goal percentage (46.9), and 3-pointers made (11)…Colorado totaled a season-high 38 points in the paint…Jank set a career-high with 10 field goals made…Leonard had a season-high eight assists…Robinson's 11 points marked a season-high.
UP NEXT: The Buffs hit the road next week for the first time this season. Colorado will spend Thanksgiving in Reno, Nev., playing in the Nevada Nugget Classic. CU will take on Nevada on Friday and Utah State on Sunday.
POSTGAME QUOTES:
Head Coach JR Payne
On CU's early struggles and bouncing back
"Our energy just was not great initially. They came down, hit a 3 and we were just kind of slow offense and average on defense. UNC was getting offensive rebound put-backs and kind of everything we talked about, we were not executing initially. After the timeout, I thought our team did a great job in responding. We came out and were aggressive on the glass. We were pushing in transition and we did a lot of really good things after that first timeout."
On what defensively helped turn things around
"I think the biggest thing was rebounding. I do not know how many of their first points were from offensive rebounds. After that first three they hit, they had a lot of offensive rebounds that were leading to point production. I think the biggest thing was we got in a stance, worked to defend, communicated and then rebounded."
On if this game was reminiscent of last year's comeback against Utah
"Yes, very much so. It should. We do not want to play that way though. We would like to just win the tip, score the first basket and lead the entire game. That is the goal. I think we will grow from this and learn that we are capable of competing with, coming back against and executing all the things we want to do against anybody."
On the team's depth
"It is awesome. Ad eep team is a good team. To play the tempo that we want to play we have to have depth. I was a little worried about Aubrey [Knight] not playing tonight because she has been a great spark plug for us off the bench. Emma [Clarke] came in at that position and was just phenomenal. She did everything we wanted from that spot. She was running the floor, giving Kennedy [Leonard] opportunities to deliver in transition. She was tremendous on the glass. She ended with eight rebounds. Peanut [Tuitele] is the ultimate spark plug off the bench because she can do anything and everything that a team needs. To have that type of energy and enthusiasm out of two players early off the bench is really good for us and going to continue to be good moving forward."
Kennedy Leonard, Sr., Guard
On working through the slow start
"We were down 11-1. Obviously, I think everyone was like 'oh crap,' but coach J called a timeout. That kind of pulled us all in and got us settled down. We have not been in that situation this year. To be able to settle down, go back on the court, run our plays and do what we do that allowed us to catch up to them and get ahead of them. We grew up a lot in this game and especially in that moment."
On Jank's performance
"When Annika is hitting, she is hitting. In the flow of the game, I don't really think about it too much. Coach J calls the plays and they get the ball to Annika. If she is hitting then the plays will be called to her and she will hit her shots."
On what the win means for CU
"I think that puts some respect on us. A lot of people doubt us and are, 'like oh you know Colorado.' We were down 11-1 and came back from that. We never settled. I think that they can look at us in a light that is a little more competitive. Like Annika said we are not going to give up. We are coming."
Annika Jank, So., Forward
On what contributed to her effort
"I was not thinking. I was way over thinking the first two games and freaking myself out. This last week I have been thinking hard about stuff and getting in the gym and practicing what I know. I lost my game so I looked back [at last year] and I know what I do well. It was letting the game come to me, not forcing it and being confident in what I do."
STAT LEADERS: Colorado had four players finish in double figures. Sophomore Annika Jank led Colorado with 25 points, one off her career-high. She added nine rebounds and two assists. Senior Kennedy Leonard totaled 24 points, going 4-of-4 from long distance. She also handed out eight assists and grabbed five rebounds. Senior Alexis Robinson and freshman Emma Clarke each finished with 11 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED: North Carolina came out as the aggressors early. The Tar Heels jumped on the Buffs in the first three minutes, taking an 11-1 lead. The visitors started 5-of-8 from the field, forcing Colorado into an early timeout. Leonard hit CU's first field goal of the game, a 3-pointer, with 6:53 to go in the quarter. That was the spark the Buffs needed to get the offense going. CU countered with a 9-0 run climbing back into the contest at 11-10.
The Buffs defense held UNC to 1-for-12 from the field through the remainder of the first quarter. Colorado gained the lead, 15-13, with Leonard running the fast break. North Carolina tied it at 15 before Peanut Tuitele put the Buffs up for good, 17-15. Leonard finished 3-of-3 in the quarter with nine points. CU's offense continued to heat up, outscoring UNC 25-8 in the final 6:55 of the quarter.
Colorado's advantage grew to 29-19 at the start of the second thanks to an Alexis Robinson 3-ball. North Carolina battled back with a 7-0 run, tightening the CU lead to 32-30. The Buffs did not flinch, going on a 14-5 run to push the lead back to double-figures, 46-35. North Carolina hit a 3-pointer in the in the final seconds of the quarter, slimming the CU lead to 49-41 at the break.
CU put the game out of reach in the third quarter, shooting 58.8 percent (10-17) in the period. Jank scored seven points on 3-of-4 shooting. The CU bench outscored UNC 8-0 in the quarter with contributions from Clarke and Lesila Finau. A Clarke 3 with 3:19 to play in the quarter gave the Buffs their largest lead of the game, 71-51. Finau closed the quarter for CU, helping Colorado to a 75-56 lead.
Jank scored seven more points in the fourth, including a 3-pointer that put Colorado up 80-63. North Carolina outscored CU 18-11 in the final quarter, slimming the deficit down to 12 at the final horn.
KEY STATISTICS: Colorado got out and ran on the Tar Heels. The Buffs outscored North Carolina, 22-4, on the fast break.
NOTES: Colorado improves to 2-1 all-time against North Carolina and 2-0 in Boulder…the Buffs have now won their last five games dating back to last season at the CU Events Center…CU has now beaten an ACC team in back-to-back years, having won at Miami (Fla.) last season…Colorado totaled season-highs in points (86), field goals made (30), field goal percentage (46.9), and 3-pointers made (11)…Colorado totaled a season-high 38 points in the paint…Jank set a career-high with 10 field goals made…Leonard had a season-high eight assists…Robinson's 11 points marked a season-high.
UP NEXT: The Buffs hit the road next week for the first time this season. Colorado will spend Thanksgiving in Reno, Nev., playing in the Nevada Nugget Classic. CU will take on Nevada on Friday and Utah State on Sunday.
POSTGAME QUOTES:
Head Coach JR Payne
On CU's early struggles and bouncing back
"Our energy just was not great initially. They came down, hit a 3 and we were just kind of slow offense and average on defense. UNC was getting offensive rebound put-backs and kind of everything we talked about, we were not executing initially. After the timeout, I thought our team did a great job in responding. We came out and were aggressive on the glass. We were pushing in transition and we did a lot of really good things after that first timeout."
On what defensively helped turn things around
"I think the biggest thing was rebounding. I do not know how many of their first points were from offensive rebounds. After that first three they hit, they had a lot of offensive rebounds that were leading to point production. I think the biggest thing was we got in a stance, worked to defend, communicated and then rebounded."
On if this game was reminiscent of last year's comeback against Utah
"Yes, very much so. It should. We do not want to play that way though. We would like to just win the tip, score the first basket and lead the entire game. That is the goal. I think we will grow from this and learn that we are capable of competing with, coming back against and executing all the things we want to do against anybody."
On the team's depth
"It is awesome. Ad eep team is a good team. To play the tempo that we want to play we have to have depth. I was a little worried about Aubrey [Knight] not playing tonight because she has been a great spark plug for us off the bench. Emma [Clarke] came in at that position and was just phenomenal. She did everything we wanted from that spot. She was running the floor, giving Kennedy [Leonard] opportunities to deliver in transition. She was tremendous on the glass. She ended with eight rebounds. Peanut [Tuitele] is the ultimate spark plug off the bench because she can do anything and everything that a team needs. To have that type of energy and enthusiasm out of two players early off the bench is really good for us and going to continue to be good moving forward."
Kennedy Leonard, Sr., Guard
On working through the slow start
"We were down 11-1. Obviously, I think everyone was like 'oh crap,' but coach J called a timeout. That kind of pulled us all in and got us settled down. We have not been in that situation this year. To be able to settle down, go back on the court, run our plays and do what we do that allowed us to catch up to them and get ahead of them. We grew up a lot in this game and especially in that moment."
On Jank's performance
"When Annika is hitting, she is hitting. In the flow of the game, I don't really think about it too much. Coach J calls the plays and they get the ball to Annika. If she is hitting then the plays will be called to her and she will hit her shots."
On what the win means for CU
"I think that puts some respect on us. A lot of people doubt us and are, 'like oh you know Colorado.' We were down 11-1 and came back from that. We never settled. I think that they can look at us in a light that is a little more competitive. Like Annika said we are not going to give up. We are coming."
Annika Jank, So., Forward
On what contributed to her effort
"I was not thinking. I was way over thinking the first two games and freaking myself out. This last week I have been thinking hard about stuff and getting in the gym and practicing what I know. I lost my game so I looked back [at last year] and I know what I do well. It was letting the game come to me, not forcing it and being confident in what I do."
Team Stats
UNC
COLO
FG%
.375
.469
3FG%
.192
.500
FT%
.714
.750
RB
38
47
TO
8
17
STL
5
3
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
25
FGM
10
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
24
FGM
8
3FGM
4
FTM
4
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
F
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