Colorado
1-0,0-0Pac-12
New Jersey Institute
0-3,0-0ASUN
Hollingshed Leads Buffs in Opening Win
November 10, 2019 | Women's Basketball
The CU junior totaled a game-high 22 points
BOULDER – Colorado junior Mya Hollingshed was one of four Buffaloes to score in double figures in the women's basketball season-debut 80-57 win over NJIT at the CU Events Center on Sunday.
Hollingshed, a junior from Houston, Texas, totaled 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting to lead the Buffs. Senior Quinessa Caylao-Do totaled 12 points, going 4-for-8 from the field. Sophomores Peanut Tuitele and Lesila Finau each finished the afternoon with 10 points.
The Buffs controlled the game from the opening tip, leading from start to finish. CU's lead hit 20 points in the third quarter and grew to the 23-point spread by the final horn.
Freshman Jaylyn Sherrod handed out 11 of the team's 23 assists in her collegiate debut. Sophomore Emma Clarke led the team with seven rebounds.
As a team, Colorado shot 46.3 percent (31-67) and went 38.9 percent (7-18) from long range. CU held a slight lead in rebounding, totaling one more board than the visiting Highlanders (37-36).
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Buffs got the offense going through Hollingshed early and often. She scored six points in the first quarter helping Colorado get out to a seven-point lead midway through the opener. CU shot 56.3 percent (9-16) in the opening period and led by as many as 10 points in the frame.
NJIT's early offense was fueled from long range. The Highlanders hit five 3's in the first quarter to keep within five points, 20-15, after 10 minutes. NJIT totaled 21 of its 29 first-half points from behind the three-point line, hitting seven 3's in the first half.
Hollingshed scored five of CU's first nine points to open the second quarter, extending the CU lead to 29-15. Colorado's lead dipped to six, 31-25, after two consecutive 3's from NJIT, but the Buffs had little issue regaining the double-digit advantage. A Hollingshed jumper paired with a 3 from Finau helped CU back to an 11-point lead. The Highlanders snuck in a last-second layup, giving CU a 41-29 lead at the half.
The Buffs shot 54.4 percent (6-11) in the third quarter to keep the 12-point halftime lead intact. Colorado enjoyed a 17-point lead midway through the third quarter, but NJIT shot 57.1 percent (8-14) out of the break to keep pace with the Buffs in the quarter.
The Colorado defense went into lockdown mode to start the fourth quarter. The Buffs held NJIT to 1-of-10 shooting and outscored the Highlanders 18-7 in the final 10 minutes. An early 3-pointer from Caylao-Do put the Buffs up 69-50, all but finishing off the Highlanders.
KEY STATISTICS: Colorado outscored NJIT 40-10 in the paint and totaled 25 points off of NJIT's 26 turnovers.
NOTES: Sherrod's 11 assists were the most in CU debut since Ann Troyan recorded 11 against Colorado State (11/16/79)… Colorado's 23 team assists were the most by the Buffs since handing out 23 in a 106-47 win over Westminster (Mo.) on Dec. 21, 2017…Colorado has now won 20 consecutive season openers and is 41-5 all-time…Sunday marked Hollingshed's seventh career 20-point game...NJIT's 12 3FGM were the most by a CU opponent since Utah hit 12 last season (1/18/19).
UPCOMING: Colorado continues at home this week, hosting Wisconsin on Thursday, Nov. 14 (7 p.m. MT).
QUOTES
Head Coach JR Payne
Overall Thoughts
"I just told the team we are undefeated this season. Even if it was not beautiful, it was a win. It was a game of ups and downs. I didn't think that we played particularly well but there is a lot of good things that you can take from this ball game. Early games are just that, early games. Some things are going to look good and there are things that we need to improve. The great thing is that we played an opponent different than ourselves and came out with a victory. We outrebounded our opponent and we have a lot of areas that we are going to be able to see on film that we can say, 'wow yeah we can get better there.' That's the fun part about an early game but [I'm] excited that we played in spurts and won the game."
On Needing to Improve on Rebounding, Free Throws and 3-Point Shooting
"Well, those are what coaches talk about as keys to winning the ball game; taking care of the ball, rebounding and making free throws. Two of those three we didn't do particularly well tonight but those are things that we can improve. Some of our best free-throw shooters didn't shoot like they normally do tonight. In terms of rebounding, we just need to continue to have a more aggressive mindset on the glass."
On Colorado's Defense
"I think when we're at our best, we're being aggressive defensively and it showed in the fourth quarter. We could have done that from the beginning, I think our mindset was we wanted to be aggressive. They were running an offense that even though we prepared for it throughout the week—it's a lot of big-little screening, a lot of back screens and things for a young ball club like ours, our communication just isn't where it needs to be yet. We'd say 'switch' and someone would not switch and things like that were difficult for us early on. It's an area where we can grow. But forcing turnovers is great for us."
Junior Mya Hollingshed
On Scoring Inside the Paint
"I was just taking what was there. Not forcing it but just keeping it simple and doing the things that I wanted to do. It was fun to just go out there with my team and just do the things that we've been practicing and scheming [up] in practices. The fact that it counted for the first time [this season], made it even more special."
Sophomore Emma Clarke
On Her Rebounding Performance
"This week one of the key goals to win the game was rebounding. I took that and wanted to apply it. Last game I had probably like three or four rebounds and I just really wanted to step it up and help the team secure the ball so we could go in transition or get a defensive stop."
