BOULDER — What’s the record for career 3-pointers by a Colorado women’s basketball player?
Bianca Smith (2006-10) set the mark of 257, but check back in a few years because CU freshman guard Lexy Kresl is off to a fast start.
Coming off the bench Friday night in Colorado’s season-opening 84-60 blowout of Northern Arizona, the 5-foot-11 Kresl scored 15 points and needed only about 15 minutes to turn heads.
Her five 3-pointers in the first half matched the school record, taking only six attempts from beyond the arc to accomplish it.
“I was definitely feeling my shot,” Kresl said. “I knew we needed a pickup, so I just tried to bring energy. I feel really good in this offense.”
Northern Arizona didn’t put up much of a fight. Struggling to get open looks against CU’s man-to-man defense, the Lumberjacks made only four of their first 17 shots and fell behind by scores of 7-0, 21-4 and finally 44-20 at halftime.
Colorado got 22 points from starting sophomore guard Brittany Wilson, who tied her career high. “I think we’re off to a good start,” she said.
Coach Linda Lappe knew all about Kresl’s shooting ability while recruiting the Arizonan. At Shadow Mountain High School near Phoenix, Kresl averaged 27 points as a junior and 25 as a senior, setting a school record with 2,404 points. But five 3-pointers in her first half of college ball?
“I thought Lexy came out with a lot of confidence,” Lappe said. “I had a feeling she would play well against Northern Arizona; she knows a lot of those players. I was only surprised by the one she made when she was almost out of bounds.”
One of Colorado’s most highly touted freshmen did not play. Arielle Roberson, a 6-1 forward from San Antonio and sister of Andre Roberson on the CU men’s team, is out indefinitely with a back injury.
Colorado takes to the road for a Wednesday game at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
NORTHERN ARIZONA (0-1)
Pratt 2-9 0-0 4, Davis 0-1 0-0 0, Gortarez 0-0 5-5 5, Patton 6-14 0-2 15, Haynes 1-4 0-0 3, May 0-1 0-0 0, Smith 0-0 0-0 0, Anderson 2-4 1-1 5, Trice 4-7 2-2 10, Frost 6-16 1-2 18, Batson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-56 9-12 60.
COLORADO (1-0)
Seabrook 4-4 1-1 9, Hargis 4-7 1-2 9, B.Wilson 7-13 6-8 22, A.Wilson 3-4 1-2 7, Malcolm-Peck 1-5 0-0 3, Kresl 5-8 0-0 15, Lee 0-0 0-0 0, Sborov 0-3 0-0 0, Jeffery 5-6 1-2 11, Reese 3-6 2-3 8. Totals 32-56 12-18 84.
Halftime — Colorado 44-20. 3-point goals — N. Arizona 9-25 (Frost 5-11, Patton 3-7, Haynes 1-3, Pratt 0-4), Colorado 8-19 (Kresl 5-8, B.Wilson 2-6, Malcolm-Peck 1-4, Sborov 0-1). Fouled out — Frost. Rebounds — N. Arizona 34 (Patton 6), Colorado 28 (Kresl 5). Assists — N. Arizona 10 (Patton 4), Colorado 13 (Jeffery 5). Total fouls — N. Arizona 20, Colorado 16. A — 4,109.
