Colorado University Athletics
Colorado
16-12,5-12Pac-12
UCLA
24-4,13-4Pac-12
Buffs Battle, Fall at No. 9 UCLA
February 28, 2020 | Women's Basketball
Junior Mya Hollingshed ties season-high with 22 points
LOS ANGELES – The Colorado women's basketball team was hoping to for a second comeback against the UCLA Bruins, having fallen just short in the first meeting at Boulder. The No. 9/8 Bruins did not give the Buffs the chance at the end, taking the rematch 62-52.
Colorado (16-12, 5-12 Pac-12) got 22 points from junior Mya Hollingshed, tying her season's best. She was the only Buffs to hit double figures on the night. Sophomore Peanut Tuitele was the team's next leading scorer with seven points.
UCLA (24-4, 13-4 Pac-12) started hot, shooting 61.5 percent in the first quarter, propelling the team the rest of the night. The Bruins finished 41.1 percent (23-56) and went 4-for-11 from 3-point range (26.7 percent). Colorado finished the night just 17-of-51 shooting (33.33 percent) and was limited from long range, going 3-for-16 (18.8 percent).
The Bruins finished with three players in double figures, led by junior Michaela Onyenwere (16).
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bruins jumped out to a quick 9-2 lead in the first three minutes, forcing the Buffs to play catchup. UCLA started 6-for-7 from the field and finished 8-for-13. UCLA's lead hit 12, 20-8, at the close of the quarter. Colorado was limited to just 3-for-11 in the period and turned the ball over six times.
UCLA's lead grew to 14, 24-10, in the first two minutes of the second quarter. That's when Colorado's comeback efforts began. Hollingshed and Sherrod combined for the next six points to get the within eight, 24-16. The Bruins pushed back, getting back out to a 12-point lead with 5:45 to go in the quarter. The Buffs twice got back within eight points, going into the break down 31-23.
Hollingshed scored six points in the third quarter, including the opening basket to cut CU's deficit to 31-25. The Bruins would respond quickly with a 9-0 run, climbing to their largest lead of the night (42-27). Sophomore Emma Clarke but a stop the to run with a 3, but the Bruins fired back with a 3 of their own to regain the 15-point lead. Redshirt sophomore Aubrey Knight scored four straight points late in the quarter to help CU cut the lead down to 10 going into the fourth quarter.
Hollingshed scored eight of CU's 14 in the quarter, getting Colorado within seven midways through the quarter. UCLA's lead grew back to double digits with under two minutes to play. A Hollingshed 3 putt the Buffs down eight, 60-52, with 37 seconds to play but time ran out on the Buffs.
KEY STATISTIC: Colorado shot a season-high 88.2 percent (15-17) from the free-throw line. Hollingshed helped lead the way going 6-for-6 in her attempts.
NOTES: Colorado falls to 5-14 all-time against UCLA…CU turned the ball over six times in each of the first three quarter but limited it two one turnover in the fourth quarter…UCLA scored 17 points off CU's 19 turnovers and CU scored 12 off of the Bruins' 17 turnovers…The Buffs outscored UCLA 13-2 in second-chance points…UCLA's bench outscored Colorado's 21-8…Hollingshed has led the team in scoring eight times this season…She has scored 22 points three times on the season…Knight led CU with seven rebounds, marking the 20th game this season she has had 5+ boards…Sherrod was held without an assist for the second time this season (Oregon State).
NEXT UP: Colorado heads across town on Sunday to finish up the regular season against USC on Sunday. Tip is set for 1 p.m. MT.
Quotes
Head Coach JR Payne
Overall thoughts
"I thought the first quarter sort of won it for them and lost it for us 61.5 percent I think for them and 27.3 for us. I thought after that quarter we were really competitive. I thought we picked up our aggressiveness. I thought we defended more effectively. In the second, third and fourth quarters. We rebounded in a way that stayed competitive even though they beat us on the glass. But I thought I just thought we came out kind of flat and tired. I don't know what it was. Certainly, we can't afford to do that against a great team like UCLA."
On UCLA's 9-0 run
"It was very deflating. I think we had made a run and felt pretty good about what we were capable of doing. Then it sort of knocked us back on our heels a little bit."
On Mya Hollingshed
"I mean I think Mya has been probably our most consistent player throughout Pac-12 play and she certainly showed that tonight. I thought she came out pretty flat as well but then really you know took a challenge from our coaches and really stepped up and was very competitive down the stretch."
