BOULDER — Not giving itself much of a chance, the Colorado women’s basketball team recorded almost as many turnovers (19) as points (21) in the first half against Texas Tech’s trapping press Saturday, leading to an easy 72-44 Lady Raiders victory at the Coors Events Center.
Colorado (12-11, 3-7 Big 12) showed no resemblance to the Buffaloes team that crushed Nebraska 70-45 here last Sunday.
The Buffs finished with 28 turnovers and just 15 field goals. The 44 points were a season low, the 28 turnovers the most since a 2007 game against Texas.
“We knew Texas Tech was going to press,” CU sophomore guard Chucky Jeffery said. “But we weren’t on the same page against it. We kept throwing the ball away.”
Colorado pulled to within 21-17 on a jumper by senior forward Brittany Spears. But Texas Tech (17-7, 4-6) took advantage of Colorado’s sloppiness and outscored the hosts 16-4 to finish the first half and coasted from there, snapping a six-game losing streak.
Texas Tech made the Buffs pay for mistakes — scoring 23 points off CU turnovers in just the first half. Getting open looks on the wings, the Lady Raiders hit a sizzling 63.6 percent from the field in the first half, 56 percent for the game.
“Texas Tech is quick and strong . . . you can’t be lackadaisical with the ball against them,” CU coach Linda Lappe said.
Texas Tech wore pink uniforms for the annual women’s college basketball initiative to recognize the fight against breast cancer. CU players and coaches put pink tops over their white home uniforms while on the bench.
TEXAS TECH (17-7, 4-6 BIG 12)
Mallard 5-13 1-2 11, Nobles 1-2 0-0 2, Hyde 3-5 5-8 12, Morris 7-9 2-2 19, Smalls 1-3 0-0 2, C.Brown 4-5 0-0 8, Barncastle 0-1 0-0 0, Wickett 2-2 0-0 4, Kimbro 1-2 0-0 3, A.Brown 0-0 0-0 0, Bokenkamp 1-3 0-0 3, Schneider 0-0 0-1 0, Baker 2-4 0-0 5, Walker 1-1 1-2 3. Totals 28-50 9-15 72.
COLORADO (12-11, 3-7)
Seabrook 2-5 0-2 4, Spears 4-13 3-3 12, Jeffery 3-8 2-4 9, Blythe 1-4 0-0 3, B.Wilson 2-5 0-0 5, A.Wilson 0-4 1-2 1, Malcolm-Peck 2-5 1-2 7, Hargis 1-2 1-3 3. Totals 15-46 8-16 44.
Halftime — TT 37-21. 3-point goals —TT 7-10 (Morris 3-3, Kimbro 1-1, Bokenkamp 1-1, Baker 1-1, Hyde 1-1, Mallard 0-3), CU 6-19 (Malcolm-Peck 2-3, Jeffrey 1-2, B.Wilson 1-3, Blythe 1-4, B.Spears 1-5, Seabrook 0-1, A.Wilson 0-1). Fouled out —None. Rebounds — TT 26 (Mallard 6), CU 33 (Spears 11). Assists — TT 16 (Smalls 4), CU 7 (Spears 2, Malcolm-Peck 2, Hargis 2). Total fouls —TT 16, CU 16. A — 2,877.
