Colorado
Xavier
Buffs Thwart Musketeers
December 06, 2019 | Women's Basketball
CU pushes winning streak to eight
CINCINNATI — A strong third quarter helped Colorado's women's basketball team to a 62-53 win over Xavier on the road on Friday. The win propels the Buffs to its first 8-0 start since the 2016-17 season.
Colorado trailed at the half (27-25) for the first time all season. The Buffs exploded for 19 points in the third quarter, helping create a double-digit lead going into the fourth. Xavier threatened in the final quarter, sliming the lead down to eight in the final minute, but Colorado stood tall in the end.
Sophomore Emma Clarke scored 11 points in the fourth quarter and finished with a career-high of 19. Junior Mya Hollingshed recorded her second-consecutive double-double, finishing with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Sophomore Peanut Tuitele hit double-figures (10) for the first time since opening-night, closing 5-for-5 from the field.
The Buffs not only had to solve the Musketeers but also battle against a season-high 28 turnovers. Xavier also had its issues controlling the ball, giving it back to Colorado 21 times on the night. XU finished with a slight edge in points off turnovers, 22-19.
The Musketeers have now lost five straight games, falling to 1-6 on the season. A'riana Gray led Xavier with 17 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Buffs started out the night on the right foot. Charlotte Whittaker and Clarke helped CU jump out to a 4-0 lead in the first 90 seconds. Neither team could hold a lead in the first 10 minutes. Each side took turns, with four total lead changes in the period. The Buffs got off to a 4-of-9 start from the field but finished the quarter 5-for-14. The turnovers began early for the Buffs, giving the ball up nine times in the quarter. A three-point play from Annika Jank put the Buffs up 13-11 late in the quarter. Xavier hit a free throw in the final minute to cut the CU lead to 13-12.
The lead changed hands five more times in the back and forth second quarter. The Buffs looked like they were going to create some separation, opening on a 4-0 run, pushing the lead to 17-12. The Musketeers called an early timeout and answered with a 3-0 run to get back within one possession. Xavier forced seven more Colorado turnovers in the second quarter and used a quick 5-0 run to retake the lead, 22-21, with less than four minutes to play. The Buffs had chances tie or take the lead from the free-throw line but went just 4-for-8 in the quarter. A Clarke free-throw gave CU a 25-24 lead, but Xavier hit a 3-pointer in the final minute to go up at the half, 27-25.
The Musketeers opened the third quarter with the first basket, giving the home team the 29-25 lead. Hollinghshed started the Buffs comeback, getting the points right back at the other end. Colorado scored 13 unanswered in a span of 4:39. Hollingshed and Tuitele each had four points in the run that put CU ahead 38-29. Colorado totaled 16 points in the paint during the third quarter and led 44-33 going into the fourth.
Clarke scored Colorado's first 11 points in the fourth quarter, hitting three 3's in the first four minutes of the period. Hollingshed tacked on a triple to give the Buffs its largest lead of the night, 58-42. Xavier pushed back with a 7-0 run, cutting the CU lead to 58-49. CU turned the ball over eight more times in the final quarter, allowing the Musketeers to get within striking distance. Freshman Jaylyn Sherrod completed a three-point play with 2:03 left to go to put the Buffs back up by 12, helping keep Xaiver out of reach the rest of the way.
KEY STATISTICS: The Buffs shot 57.7 percent (15-26) in the second half, improving on its 32.3 percent (10-31) showing in the first half.
NOTES: CU's eight-game winning streak marks its longs since starting the 2016-17season 10-0…Clarke set career-highs in points in back-to-back games (17 vs Texas Southern)…Hollingshed grabbed 12 rebounds for the second consecutive games, tying her career-high…Sherrod handed out seven assists…Colorado outrebounded Xavier, 42-29…CU has now scored 30+ points in the paint (32) in six of its eight games…Colorado's 28 turnovers were the most since totaling 28 at UCLA (Feb. 6, 2015).
NEXT UP: The Buffs closeout 2019 with one last home game. Colorado will host Denver next Thursday, Dec. 12 (7 p.m.).
QUOTES
Head Coach JR Payne
On 8-0 start
"It just feels awesome. There's no other way to describe it. I always say we have so many areas that we need to get better and can get better. But as a basketball club, we're improving. In a game like tonight, this gives us a lot to work on. Especially in the fourth quarter and taking care of the ball. It also shows us that we're a pretty good basketball team."
On battling own turnovers
"We tried to bring in two point guards in late in the game to handle what we knew would be more pressure. I don't know that that really helped us. We just need to be in these situations where we have to learn from it. We have to probably put ourselves in these situations more in practice so that we're prepared and comfortable and confident."
On the message to the team at halftime
"We just went in and said, 'Listen, that wasn't the prettiest half of basketball we've ever played we're capable of better.' We talked about keeping it really simple and continuing to rebound both ends of the floor. It was a very light mood. We were trying to keep everybody kind of upbeat and positive and feeling good, going into the second half."
Sophomore Peanut Tuitele
On battling adversity on the road
"I just think us being there for each other was important. A lot of people have talked about how we're a young team and it's easy to fall apart and not be there for one another. For us, we stay [together] for one another. If we're there for one another, we're all going to succeed together. We win as a ballclub, we don't' win as individuals."
On the change from the first half to the second
"I think coach T [Toriano Towns] really emphasized the first four minutes of the third quarter. We had to come out with intense energy so we can carry it over into the fourth quarter. Last year we didn't come out as strong as the third quarter and it really didn't do as well towards the end of the game. It was a battle, but this year you know we come out tough in the third quarter and carry it over into the fourth."
On battling down low
"I just stepped up. I said, 'Mya was in trouble and she was out for the first half.' I had to step up as a post and lead in the post. I had to step up and show them [CU's post players] that any of us can battle down low with anybody."
