LUBBOCK, Texas — The LSU women’s basketball team could not stop the No. 15 Colorado three-point attack as the Lady Buffaloes defeated the Lady Tigers, 86-65, in the second game of the Triple Crown Classic in Lubbock, Texas.
The Lady Tigers close out the non-conference schedule at 7-4 and will open Southeastern Conference play on Thursday at Georgia. Colorado picked up its first win against a nationally ranked opponent this season and improved to 10-3.
Colorado shot over 61 percent from the field for the game, including 68-percent aim in the second half. The Lady Buffaloes also were 11-of-21 from three-point range, the highest three-point output of the season.
“When you get a hold of a team that shoots the ball and especially the three as well as Colorado did today, it is almost impossible to stop,” said LSU head coach Sue Gunter. “It’s tough to go against 60-percent shooting and when we got tired late in the game, we got sluggish and hoped they would miss, but they didn’t miss.”
Junior Aiysha Smith led scoring for LSU with 18 points, followed by Ke-Ke Tardy with 13 points and a game-high eight rebounds. Doneeka Hodges also had 13 points and Temeka Johnson added 11 points.
For Colorado, Eisha Bohman was almost untouchable in the second half, scoring 15 of her 19 points on 8-of-9 shooting. Mandy Nightingale had 18 for the Lady Buffaloes, including six three-pointers.
Colorado jumped out to a 5-0 lead to start the game on a three-pointer by Kate Fagen from the right side and a layup by Bjorklund in a sign of things to come.
The Buffaloes were 5-of-10 from three-point range in the first half, compared to an 0-for-2 effort from LSU and Tera Bjorklund led all scoring with 12 points, including scoring eight of Colorado’s first 13 points.
LSU was able to close the gap to 7-6 on a spinning layup by Scholanda Dorrell after taking the ball the length of the court on a steal.
After an 11-10 Colorado lead, the Buffaloes went on a 16-6 run to bring the score to 27-16, using three Nightingale three-pointers.
LSU countered with a 10-3 run of their own as Colorado went cold from the court and LSU made 7-of-11. The Lady Tigers could get no closer than 30-26, however and the Lady Buffaloes scored four straight to end the half with the 38-29 lead.
“We made a couple of good runs in the first and second half, but we just couldn’t sustain it,” said Gunter. “When you only have eight players dressed out, it makes sustaining those runs even more difficult, but give credit to Colorado for playing well.”
After a 17-footer by Smith to open the second half, Colorado went on a 10-4 run to extend the lead to 48-35. LSU once again countered with a 13-7 run to get to within seven at 55-48, but could get no closer.
To end the game, Colorado got hot from the floor, making 10 of their final 13 shots, including four three-pointers, while LSU got cold, making just 3-of-10 in the final eight minutes.