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Down by four entering the second half against Arizona State, Colorado women's basketball beared down on the defensive side of court, allowing just 17 points the rest of the game, winning 57-43.
"Very solid (second) half defensively for us," said CU head coach Linda Lappe. "Both halves we knew the game plan and executed the game plan and we didn't deviate very much at all."
After allowing ASU's Haley Videckis to get loose beyond the arc three too many times in the first half, the Buffs locked down, holding Videckis scoreless. Arizona State only managed to make five field goals inside the three point line the entire game.
"They like to score at the rim," said Colorado guard Chucky Jeffery. "(Videckis was) hitting outside shots so we just made adjustments at halftime. We just had to recognize where their shooters were and know when to go out and when to short close-out."
The win represents significant improvement from last year for Lappe's bunch. The Buffs struggled mightily both times they faced ASU, especially in Tempe. Colorado only scored nine points in the first half of a road loss to the Sun Devils. Even at home, CU struggled against Arizona State's trademark stifling physical defense, losing 60-47
On Friday, CU answered Arizona State's physicality by getting to the free throw line 34 times, converting 21 times, accounting for over one third of the Buffs' points. Jeffery got to the line a game-high 12 times, where she scored seven of her 19 points. Arielle Roberson also got her fair share of trips to the charity stripe, taking ten free throws.
Roberson also recorded a career-high in rebounds with 11. Jeffery also cleaned the glass at a high level, totaling 16 rebounds in 31 minutes, a season high. Colorado held a sizable edge on the glass, outrebounding the Sun Devils by 16.
Colorado faces a quick turnaround, as Arizona comes to town on Sunday for a 2 p.m. tip. Colorado swept the Wildcats last season, but Arizona appears to be much improved. They beat Utah by four on the road on Friday and match CU's 3-2 conference record.
Notes
Jeffery recorded her fourth double-double of the season, and the 24th of her career... Colorado held Arizona State to just 13.3 percent from the field in the second half, nearly matching the all-time low for a half held by Kansas State in 1992...