FORT COLLINS — The undefeated University of Colorado women’s basketball team used strong defense and an 18-0 flurry Sunday to beat Colorado State 72-53 at Moby Arena.
Chucky Jeffery and Lexy Kresl led the Buffaloes with 14 points apiece. Meagan Malcolm-Peck and Jen Reese each added 12 points for CU.
Colorado, 3-0 for the first time in eight years, forced the Rams (1-3) into 21 turnovers that translated into 25 points for the Buffs.
After CSU’s Meghan Heimstra scored on the opening possession of the game, Colorado ran off 18 consecutive points over the next nine minutes. During that span, the Rams missed the four shots they attempted and committed eight turnovers that turned into 13 points for the Buffs.
“They just came out ready to go,” Heimstra said. “We were just getting killed inside. We weren’t mentally there.”
Colorado kept the pressure on in the second half. Jeffery scored eight points in the first eight minutes as the Buffs extended their lead to 54-24.
“I thought we came out ready to play,” said CU coach Linda Lappe, whose team hosts Valparaiso on Friday night.
COLORADO (3-0)
Seabrook 1-2 0-0 3, Hargis 3-6 3-4 9, B.Wilson 3-9 0-0 8, Malcolm-Peck 5-8 0-0 12, Jeffery 7-10 0-0 14, Kresl 4-9 5-5 14, Lee 0-0 0-0 0, A.Wilson 0-1 0-0 0, Sborov 0-1 0-0 0, Reese 5-11 2-3 12. Totals 28-57 10-12 72.
COLORADO STATE (1-3)
Heimstra 4-8 1-5 9, Martin 2-11 0-0 5, Hartig 0-2 2-2 2, Forte 0-3 0-0 0, Mestdagh 7-12 5-6 19, Wiens 0-0 2-2 2, Thompson 2-2 0-2 5, Chavez 0-0 0-0 0, Spotton 2-4 0-2 6, Makeever 2-6 0-0 5, Hunt 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 19-49 12-19 53.
Halftime — Colorado 38-22. 3-point goals —Colorado 6-18 (Malcolm-Peck 2-4, B.Wilson 2-5, Seabrook 1-1, Kresl 1-5, Jeffery 0-1, Reese 0-2). Colorado State 3-9 (Thompson 1-1, Makeever 1-3, Martin 1-3, Heimstra 0-1, Mestdagh 0-1). Fouled out —Reese, Martin. Rebounds — Colorado 37 (Hargis 8), Colorado State 28 (Heimstra 8). Assists — Colorado 13 (Jeffery 7), Colorado State 10 (Mestdagh 4). Total fouls —Colorado 21, Colorado State 15. A — 1,223.
