Thursday, December 20
Boulder, Colo.
7:00 PM
Colorado
10-1
81
vs
39
Samford
4-9
1
2
3
4
F
Samford
11
13
3
12
39
Colorado
24
13
18
26
81
Photo by: Cliff Grassmick
Buffs Slam Door on Non-Conference Play
December 20, 2018 | Women's Basketball
Colorado finishes off Samford, 81-39
BOULDER–A fast start and solid defense led to a second consecutive 40-point win for the University of Colorado women's basketball team on Thursday. The Buffaloes controlled the game from the start, capping the non-conference season with an 81-39 win over Samford.
CU improves to 10-1 on the season and a perfect 8-0 at home. Samford, playing their second game in 24 hours, falls to 4-9.
Colorado's youth led the way. Freshman Emma Clarke led the team in scoring with 12 points off the bench. Classmate Peanut Tuitele registered the first double-double of her career, closing with 10 points and a season-high 12 rebounds.
The Buffs showed little signs of rust from its eight-day break. Colorado claimed the early lead thanks to its 6-of-9 start from the floor. Clarke hit her first three of the night to put the Buffs up 11, 21-10. Colorado's lead grew to 24-11 by the close of the period. The Buffs limited Samford's offensive opportunities. The Bulldogs went just 4-of-15 in the quarter while getting outrebounded by Colorado, 16-7.
Samford scored the first basket of the second quarter, hoping to cut into the CU lead. The Buffs had other plans, scoring six points in a span of 51 seconds to extend its lead to 30-13. CU's lead grew to 19 with just over two minutes gone in the quarter before the offense went cold. Colorado battled through a 0-for-14 steak, holding off the Bulldogs, 37-24, at the half.
Both sides struggled to get to the basket to open the second half. The Buffs held Samford to 1-for-9 out of the locker room, while going just 2-for-5. Fortunately for Colorado, they were able to turn things around. The Buffs finished the quarter shooting 66.7 percent (8-12), outscoring Samford 18-3 in the quarter.
Colorado's bench stepped up in the final 10 minutes, scoring all 26 of its points. Clarke went 3-of-4 in the quarter, netting seven points. Freshman Cameron Swartz played all but a few seconds in the period, adding seven points as well.
Stat Leaders: CU had four players score double figures. Sophomore Mya Hollingshed and junior Quinessa Caylao-Do each added 11 points, joining Clarke and Tuitele. Senior Alexis Robinson helped provide offense early on, wrapping her night with eight points. Kennedy Leonard finished with a game-high seven assists.
Paige Serup and Ta'Naisha Hill led Samford with nine points apiece.
How it Happened: Colorado's offense provided the early cushion, leading by 13 after the first quarter. Samford cut the lead down to 10 in the second, but would not get any closer. The Buffs regained the 13 point lead at halftime and outscored the Bulldogs 44-15 in the final 20 minutes.
Key Statistic: Colorado matched its season-high with 50 points in the paint. The Buffs outscored Samford by 40 underneath the basket. CU did most of its damage with 30 points in the paint in the second half alone.
Notes: Colorado has held opponents to under 40 points in back-to-back games (38 vs Prairie View A&M)…the 42-point win is the largest margin of victory this season...CU's 13-point lead after the first quarter was the largest of the season…CU's 26 fourth-quarter points matches the most points scored in a quarter this season (Utah State 1st Q, North Carolina 3rd Q)…Colorado had a season-high 19 steals, tied for the fifth-most in program history…also registered season-highs in field goals made (34) field goals attempted (75)…all 12 available players got on the scoreboard for the first time this season…Leonard now has 609 career assists, four away from tying CU's all-time record…she is now tied for 12 in school history with 104 career starts.
Up Next: Colorado breaks for the holidays next week. The Buffs will return to action on Dec. 30, opening conference play at home against Utah.
Postgame Quotes:
Head Coach JR Payne
Overall thoughts
"I thought it was a really good game for us tonight. There are always areas that we can continue to get better. I love the fact that we have played back-to-back really complete, good basketball games where everyone had a chance to contribute. We saw a lot of productivity off the bench tonight which was fantastic—and just overall great team effort. It feels good going into Pac-12 play on that note."
On Colorado's shot selection
"I think the times when we were cold—we will go back and watch the film and see that we were settling for a lot of jumpers. I thought when we were more aggressive at the basket and getting the ball inside, shooting more rhythm shots—I thought we were knocking those down more effectively. I think that is something as a young ball club, we can learn from."
On being pleased with the team's play
"I should be, right? We had 37 points at halftime. I was frustrated going in at halftime but I have to continue to try to find the positives. You look at the stat sheet and there are a lot of positives to be found. Two of them sitting right here beside me [Emma Clarke and Peanut Tuitele]—to have that type of productivity from such a young group. We have to keep getting better. Our opponents are going to keep getting better, as are we. We are excited about Pac-12."
On moving into Pac-12 play
"It is still basketball. They play five players at a time just like us. It is just that those players will probably be a little bit bigger, maybe a little bit better. We have played a really good preseason. We have a really strong RPI right now, which tells you we have played really good teams in our preseason. We are coming in playing good basketball. I would hate to have a 10-1 record and come in kind of limping into conference play and not feel really good about how we are playing—which certainly is not the case. It is going to be the same thing. It [the routine] is going to be scout, learn the opponent, what do they do? and what do we want to do to take advantage of? We will take it by a day-by-day approach."
Freshman Emma Clarke
On her performance
"Before the game coach J [JR Payne] just said to try our hardest. We just have to go out and go get a good win before Christmas and that is exactly what we did. We fought through it and really had fun. I thought we had really good bench energy and it was just fun to be out there."
On finishing her first semester of college
"It was a relief, finishing all my courses which have been super-hard this semester—and just to finish of finals. On top of that finish with something that I love to do [play basketball] was great."
Freshman Peanut Tuitele
On her first double-double
"It is a big deal. But to me, the numbers do not matter. It is about the outcome, how we played if we executed the way coaches wanted us to and were disciplined on defense. Conference play is coming around and it is a big deal. My execution and being disciplined was my big goal, not the numbers."
On finishing finals week
"It is a relief that they are over. It is just the icing on the top. Our first freshman-experience was stressful because it is a big load on you. Then on top of that, college practices are different than high school. It was heavy. We do all these different things like treatment. So, this win was the icing on the top. A lot of us get to go home so that is a plus."
CU improves to 10-1 on the season and a perfect 8-0 at home. Samford, playing their second game in 24 hours, falls to 4-9.
Colorado's youth led the way. Freshman Emma Clarke led the team in scoring with 12 points off the bench. Classmate Peanut Tuitele registered the first double-double of her career, closing with 10 points and a season-high 12 rebounds.
The Buffs showed little signs of rust from its eight-day break. Colorado claimed the early lead thanks to its 6-of-9 start from the floor. Clarke hit her first three of the night to put the Buffs up 11, 21-10. Colorado's lead grew to 24-11 by the close of the period. The Buffs limited Samford's offensive opportunities. The Bulldogs went just 4-of-15 in the quarter while getting outrebounded by Colorado, 16-7.
Samford scored the first basket of the second quarter, hoping to cut into the CU lead. The Buffs had other plans, scoring six points in a span of 51 seconds to extend its lead to 30-13. CU's lead grew to 19 with just over two minutes gone in the quarter before the offense went cold. Colorado battled through a 0-for-14 steak, holding off the Bulldogs, 37-24, at the half.
Both sides struggled to get to the basket to open the second half. The Buffs held Samford to 1-for-9 out of the locker room, while going just 2-for-5. Fortunately for Colorado, they were able to turn things around. The Buffs finished the quarter shooting 66.7 percent (8-12), outscoring Samford 18-3 in the quarter.
Colorado's bench stepped up in the final 10 minutes, scoring all 26 of its points. Clarke went 3-of-4 in the quarter, netting seven points. Freshman Cameron Swartz played all but a few seconds in the period, adding seven points as well.
Stat Leaders: CU had four players score double figures. Sophomore Mya Hollingshed and junior Quinessa Caylao-Do each added 11 points, joining Clarke and Tuitele. Senior Alexis Robinson helped provide offense early on, wrapping her night with eight points. Kennedy Leonard finished with a game-high seven assists.
Paige Serup and Ta'Naisha Hill led Samford with nine points apiece.
How it Happened: Colorado's offense provided the early cushion, leading by 13 after the first quarter. Samford cut the lead down to 10 in the second, but would not get any closer. The Buffs regained the 13 point lead at halftime and outscored the Bulldogs 44-15 in the final 20 minutes.
Key Statistic: Colorado matched its season-high with 50 points in the paint. The Buffs outscored Samford by 40 underneath the basket. CU did most of its damage with 30 points in the paint in the second half alone.
Notes: Colorado has held opponents to under 40 points in back-to-back games (38 vs Prairie View A&M)…the 42-point win is the largest margin of victory this season...CU's 13-point lead after the first quarter was the largest of the season…CU's 26 fourth-quarter points matches the most points scored in a quarter this season (Utah State 1st Q, North Carolina 3rd Q)…Colorado had a season-high 19 steals, tied for the fifth-most in program history…also registered season-highs in field goals made (34) field goals attempted (75)…all 12 available players got on the scoreboard for the first time this season…Leonard now has 609 career assists, four away from tying CU's all-time record…she is now tied for 12 in school history with 104 career starts.
Up Next: Colorado breaks for the holidays next week. The Buffs will return to action on Dec. 30, opening conference play at home against Utah.
Postgame Quotes:
Head Coach JR Payne
Overall thoughts
"I thought it was a really good game for us tonight. There are always areas that we can continue to get better. I love the fact that we have played back-to-back really complete, good basketball games where everyone had a chance to contribute. We saw a lot of productivity off the bench tonight which was fantastic—and just overall great team effort. It feels good going into Pac-12 play on that note."
On Colorado's shot selection
"I think the times when we were cold—we will go back and watch the film and see that we were settling for a lot of jumpers. I thought when we were more aggressive at the basket and getting the ball inside, shooting more rhythm shots—I thought we were knocking those down more effectively. I think that is something as a young ball club, we can learn from."
On being pleased with the team's play
"I should be, right? We had 37 points at halftime. I was frustrated going in at halftime but I have to continue to try to find the positives. You look at the stat sheet and there are a lot of positives to be found. Two of them sitting right here beside me [Emma Clarke and Peanut Tuitele]—to have that type of productivity from such a young group. We have to keep getting better. Our opponents are going to keep getting better, as are we. We are excited about Pac-12."
On moving into Pac-12 play
"It is still basketball. They play five players at a time just like us. It is just that those players will probably be a little bit bigger, maybe a little bit better. We have played a really good preseason. We have a really strong RPI right now, which tells you we have played really good teams in our preseason. We are coming in playing good basketball. I would hate to have a 10-1 record and come in kind of limping into conference play and not feel really good about how we are playing—which certainly is not the case. It is going to be the same thing. It [the routine] is going to be scout, learn the opponent, what do they do? and what do we want to do to take advantage of? We will take it by a day-by-day approach."
Freshman Emma Clarke
On her performance
"Before the game coach J [JR Payne] just said to try our hardest. We just have to go out and go get a good win before Christmas and that is exactly what we did. We fought through it and really had fun. I thought we had really good bench energy and it was just fun to be out there."
On finishing her first semester of college
"It was a relief, finishing all my courses which have been super-hard this semester—and just to finish of finals. On top of that finish with something that I love to do [play basketball] was great."
Freshman Peanut Tuitele
On her first double-double
"It is a big deal. But to me, the numbers do not matter. It is about the outcome, how we played if we executed the way coaches wanted us to and were disciplined on defense. Conference play is coming around and it is a big deal. My execution and being disciplined was my big goal, not the numbers."
On finishing finals week
"It is a relief that they are over. It is just the icing on the top. Our first freshman-experience was stressful because it is a big load on you. Then on top of that, college practices are different than high school. It was heavy. We do all these different things like treatment. So, this win was the icing on the top. A lot of us get to go home so that is a plus."
Team Stats
SAM
COLO
FG%
.265
.453
3FG%
.240
.227
FT%
.700
.667
RB
31
48
TO
24
11
STL
4
19
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG/F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballF
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