Box Score

BOULDER, Colo. – A 15-2 run by the Aces to open the second half against the University of Colorado Friday night at Coors Events Center set up a dramatic final six seconds, but the University of Evansville women’s basketball team was unable to get a shot off on the final possession, falling 55-53. The Aces rallied from a 19 point deficit to take the lead late in the second half, but CU regained it, improving to 4-1 on the year, while UE fell to 2-2.

“I was really proud of the fight that we showed especially in the second half, but I’m disappointed in the way we started,” said Coach Misty Murphy. “In a situation like this on the road and against a Big 12 opponent it shouldn’t take a half of basketball to get ready.”

After spending Thanksgiving Day making the trip to Boulder and getting acclimated to the 5,340 feet above sea level altitude at which the Coors Events Center sits (quite the change from Evansville’s Roberts Stadium, which stands at 387 feet) the Aces took on CU in the first round of the Omni Hotels Classic.

The Buffaloes started the game hot, making their first four shots of the game and jumping out to a 7-0 lead, before junior Staci Gillum’s layup put the Aces on the board 2:54 into the game.

From there, CU went on a 9-0 run over the next five minutes, before sophomore Samantha Heck ended Evansville’s scoring drought with a free throw at the 12:12 mark.

Freshman Khristian Hart recorded her first career points, sinking both free throws with 11:35 to go, but turnovers and wild shots allowed CU to pull away. Consecutive layups for the Buffs’ Rachel Hargis gave Colorado a 19 point lead, their largest of the half with 7:10 left.

However, the Aces fought back, sparked by junior Briyana Blair‘s free throw and layup, followed by Meagan Collins ‘ back-to-back layup and three-pointer, and basket for Chelsea Falkenstein made it 29-17 with two minutes remaining in the half.

Sophomore Taylor Ware’s layup sandwiched between baskets by CU’s Brittany Spears sent UE into the locker room down 33-19 at the half.

The Aces struggled to make their shots to fall in the first half, shooting 8-for-24 (30.4%) from the field and just 1-for-9 (11.1%) from three-point range. The teams combined for 27 turnovers in the half (CU: 14, UE: 13).

A whole different Evansville team arrived on the floor in the second half, however. The Aces did not allow Colorado a field goal for nine minutes as they went on a 15-2 run.

Heck put on a clinic on the low block, scoring three baskets in the run, while consecutive layups by Collins, free throws by Blair and Hart, and a put-back by Ware put the Aces within one point (35-34) at the 11:44 mark.

Spears’ layup at 10:51 broke CU’s scoring famine, but Blair answered back immediately to keep the Aces within one. The Buffs extended their lead to 44-38 with eight minutes to go on scores by Chucky Jeffery and Ashley Wilson, but Heck responded with two made free throws to keep the Aces within reach.

Gillum knocked down just the second three of the game for the Aces and Heck followed with a short jumper in the paint to take the lead, 45-44 with 6:04 remaining.

Collins added a basket of her own and another by Heck gave the Aces a three point advantage with 4:38 to go. However, three consecutive possessions ending in turnovers opened the door for the Buffs. CU regained the lead on Jeffery’s back-to-back scores and free throws and a layup by Spears with 1:56 left (54-49).

Another strong post move by Heck and baseline lay-in by Collins put UE within one again with 39.6 second remaining. The Aces intentionally fouled with 11.1 seconds, putting Spears on the line. She made the first, missed the second to give Evansville the ball with six seconds to go and down just a basket (55-53). Unfortunately, Jeffery snagged the ball away as Gillum drove down the lane in the closing seconds.

Heck finished with a career-high 16 points and seven rebounds, followed by Collins’ 13 points. Blair scored eight, while Gillum added five and a career-high six steals, as the Aces forced CU to commit 27 turnovers. Spears led Colorado with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Chucky finished with 17 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. 

“We did a lot of great things in the second half, and I really liked how aggressive we were,” said Murphy. “If we can play that same style of basketball for forty minutes, we can do some very good things this year.”

The Aces are back in action tomorrow in the consolation game against Eastern Washington, which fell to Loyola Chicago earlier this evening, 74-67. Tip-off is slated for 6:00pm CST.