Friday, February 15
Tempe, Ariz.
6:00 PM
Colorado
11-13, 1-12
49
at
66
Arizona State
17-6, 8-4
1
2
3
4
F
Colorado
11
11
14
13
49
Arizona State
18
14
19
15
66
Photo by: Gary Breedlove
Colorado Goes Cold at Arizona State
February 15, 2019 | Women's Basketball
Buffs fall 66-49
TEMPE, Ariz. – The road struggles for the Colorado women's basketball team continued Friday. The No. 19/17 Arizona State Sun Devils handed Colorado a 66-49 loss inside the Wells Fargo Center.
Colorado (11-13, 1-12 Pac-12), fresh off its first Pac-12 win of the season, struggled to find its footing. The Buffs' offense came in spurts, finishing the night 17-of-49 (34.7 percent) from the field. Senior Alexis Robinson led the offense with 13 points. Junior Quinessa Caylao-Do added nine points on the night. Freshman Lesila Finau led the team with six assists to go her six points.
"I thought we really competed and battled," head coach JR Payne said. "The lead got to 11 or so in the first half and then we battled back and it [the lead] got bigger and we brought it back. They [Arizona State] just hit really timely shots."
Arizona State (17-6, 8-4 Pac-12) extended its winning streak to four. The Sun Devils started the night 7-for-13 and built an 11-point first-quarter lead to put Colorado on the chase. Kianna Ibis led all players with 18 points, while Courtney Ekmark contributed 14 for the Sun Devils.
The Buffs' offensive struggles were contagious. CU hit just 2-of-13 from 3-point range and went 13-of-26 from the free-throw line.
"Missing 13 free throws was also a factor," Payne added. "I was proud of us for getting to the line. To be able to get there 26 times is fantastic. You just can't leave 13 of those points on the board."
HOW IT HAPPENED: The Buffs got the first basket of the game, but quickly fell behind on the road. Arizona State went on a 5-for-5 shooting streak after missing its first shot to open. The hot Sun Devil start resulted in a 14-2 run, giving Arizona State an 18-7 lead. Colorado's offensive woes began early, hitting just four shots (4-14) from the field.
Reili Richardson scored ASU's first five points in the opening minute of the second quarter, increasing the home team's lead to 23-11. CU got behind by as much as 14 in the quarter (25-11), due in large to its 0-for-5 start to the quarter. The Buffs' flipped a switch midway through the quarter. Caylao-Do scored all seven of her first-half points in the period, helping get CU to within six, 28-22. ASU scored the final four points of the half to regain the double-digit lead, 32-22.
Robinson looked to kickstart Colorado out of the half. The senior hit a long pull-up jumper in CU's first possession to cut the deficit to eight, 32-24. A Caylao-Do free throw again brought the ASU lead back to single-digits, 26-27, with 7:14 to go in the period. Arizona State enjoyed a double-digit cushion the rest of the night, thanks in part to a 10-1 run that would put the Sun Devils up 19 (51-32) in the final seconds the quarter.
Emma Clarke scored five points in the final quarter for the Buffs and CU cut the deficit to 11 plenty of time to make a run. Arizona State had other ideas, going on an 11-0 run to put the game out of reach at 64-44.
TURNING POINT: Mya Hollingshed brought Colorado back to within 10 points, 41-31, with just under four minutes to play in the third quarter. Arizona State immediately went back up 16, 47-31, thanks to back-to-back 3-pointers from Robbi Ryan in a span of 18 seconds.
WHAT IT MEANS: Colorado falls to 1-7 on the road this season. The Buffs close the season with three of its final five games away from CU Events Center. CU will need to find a way to pick up a few road wins to improve its seeding for the Pac-12 Tournament.
KEY STATISTICS: Colorado's 13-for-26 showing matched its season-low in percentage (50 percent)…Colorado gave up 13 offensive rebounds, resulting in 18 second-chance points…ASU also outscored CU in the paint, 34-26.
NOTEWORTHY: Colorado was without senior Kennedy Leonard for the 10th consecutive game…she continues to be day-to-day…Robinson moved past Jamee Swan for 20th on CU's scoring list (1,250)…CU's 17 field goals were the second fewest of the season (16, at Oregon)…Colorado finished with just nine assists…CU falls to 3-21 against rank opponents in the last three season.
QUOTEWORTHY: "I think I am getting more comfortable, getting used to the game a little more. It is getting easier for me to get to the basket." – CU's Lesila Finau
"We need a win. We need to beat them [Arizona] on their home court." – CU's Lesila Finau
"Sila is doing a better job of commanding our offense and commanding our team right now. She certainly doesn't look like a freshman out there anymore." – CU's JR Payne
NEXT UP: Colorado caps off the weekend with a rematch at Arizona. Tip against the Wildcats is set for 12 p.m. MT, on the Pac-12 Networks.
Colorado (11-13, 1-12 Pac-12), fresh off its first Pac-12 win of the season, struggled to find its footing. The Buffs' offense came in spurts, finishing the night 17-of-49 (34.7 percent) from the field. Senior Alexis Robinson led the offense with 13 points. Junior Quinessa Caylao-Do added nine points on the night. Freshman Lesila Finau led the team with six assists to go her six points.
"I thought we really competed and battled," head coach JR Payne said. "The lead got to 11 or so in the first half and then we battled back and it [the lead] got bigger and we brought it back. They [Arizona State] just hit really timely shots."
Arizona State (17-6, 8-4 Pac-12) extended its winning streak to four. The Sun Devils started the night 7-for-13 and built an 11-point first-quarter lead to put Colorado on the chase. Kianna Ibis led all players with 18 points, while Courtney Ekmark contributed 14 for the Sun Devils.
The Buffs' offensive struggles were contagious. CU hit just 2-of-13 from 3-point range and went 13-of-26 from the free-throw line.
"Missing 13 free throws was also a factor," Payne added. "I was proud of us for getting to the line. To be able to get there 26 times is fantastic. You just can't leave 13 of those points on the board."
HOW IT HAPPENED: The Buffs got the first basket of the game, but quickly fell behind on the road. Arizona State went on a 5-for-5 shooting streak after missing its first shot to open. The hot Sun Devil start resulted in a 14-2 run, giving Arizona State an 18-7 lead. Colorado's offensive woes began early, hitting just four shots (4-14) from the field.
Reili Richardson scored ASU's first five points in the opening minute of the second quarter, increasing the home team's lead to 23-11. CU got behind by as much as 14 in the quarter (25-11), due in large to its 0-for-5 start to the quarter. The Buffs' flipped a switch midway through the quarter. Caylao-Do scored all seven of her first-half points in the period, helping get CU to within six, 28-22. ASU scored the final four points of the half to regain the double-digit lead, 32-22.
Robinson looked to kickstart Colorado out of the half. The senior hit a long pull-up jumper in CU's first possession to cut the deficit to eight, 32-24. A Caylao-Do free throw again brought the ASU lead back to single-digits, 26-27, with 7:14 to go in the period. Arizona State enjoyed a double-digit cushion the rest of the night, thanks in part to a 10-1 run that would put the Sun Devils up 19 (51-32) in the final seconds the quarter.
Emma Clarke scored five points in the final quarter for the Buffs and CU cut the deficit to 11 plenty of time to make a run. Arizona State had other ideas, going on an 11-0 run to put the game out of reach at 64-44.
TURNING POINT: Mya Hollingshed brought Colorado back to within 10 points, 41-31, with just under four minutes to play in the third quarter. Arizona State immediately went back up 16, 47-31, thanks to back-to-back 3-pointers from Robbi Ryan in a span of 18 seconds.
WHAT IT MEANS: Colorado falls to 1-7 on the road this season. The Buffs close the season with three of its final five games away from CU Events Center. CU will need to find a way to pick up a few road wins to improve its seeding for the Pac-12 Tournament.
KEY STATISTICS: Colorado's 13-for-26 showing matched its season-low in percentage (50 percent)…Colorado gave up 13 offensive rebounds, resulting in 18 second-chance points…ASU also outscored CU in the paint, 34-26.
NOTEWORTHY: Colorado was without senior Kennedy Leonard for the 10th consecutive game…she continues to be day-to-day…Robinson moved past Jamee Swan for 20th on CU's scoring list (1,250)…CU's 17 field goals were the second fewest of the season (16, at Oregon)…Colorado finished with just nine assists…CU falls to 3-21 against rank opponents in the last three season.
QUOTEWORTHY: "I think I am getting more comfortable, getting used to the game a little more. It is getting easier for me to get to the basket." – CU's Lesila Finau
"We need a win. We need to beat them [Arizona] on their home court." – CU's Lesila Finau
"Sila is doing a better job of commanding our offense and commanding our team right now. She certainly doesn't look like a freshman out there anymore." – CU's JR Payne
NEXT UP: Colorado caps off the weekend with a rematch at Arizona. Tip against the Wildcats is set for 12 p.m. MT, on the Pac-12 Networks.
Team Stats
COLO
ASU
FG%
.347
.441
3FG%
.154
.389
FT%
.500
.583
RB
34
42
TO
15
11
STL
3
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
9
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
8
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG/F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
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