CU Offense Stalls In New Jersey

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - Colorado was limited to a school record low 13 first half points and never recovered as Seton Hall claimed a 77-40 decision Tuesday evening at Walsh Gymnasium.

Colorado (3-4) trailed 43-13 at halftime in a period filled with missed shots and mistakes. The Buffaloes shot just 19 percent in the first half (5-of-27) and committed 12 turnovers.

Colorado missed its first six shots and added four turnovers as Seton Hall scored the first 11 points of the game. The Buffaloes didn't score until junior Bianca Smith hit a 3-pointer at the 15:08 mark of the first half.

Seton Hall (6-1) kept right on trucking along. The Pirates made 7-of-9 to open the game and 63 percent overall in the first half (17-of-27).

The Buffaloes, who have lost nine straight road games dating back to last season, struggled with Seton Hall's pressure defense and never could get into a rhythm. Most of CU's 12 first-half turnovers came on errand passes and the Pirates took advantage, outscoring the Buffaloes 16-2 off turnovers in the first 20 minutes.

"The caliber of (opponent) and the youth of our team is contributing to the outcome of these games, but right now we're looking like we don't have a solid point guard," CU head coach Kathy McConnell-Miller said. "Not that Kelly Jo (Mullaney) isn't a solid player or Britney Blythe isn't a solid point guard, but we're just not getting into (our offense) right now, we're totally on our heels half the time."

Seton Hall's defense held Colorado's top two scorers, Brittany Spears and Kara Richards, to just one point in the first half ? a Spears' free throw. The duo was a combined 0-of-12 from the field, several of the misses coming from point-blank range.

CU's 13 first half points eclipsed the previous low of 14 for a first half, done twice, and most recently at Pacific on Nov. 18, 2004. It's the second lowest total regardless of half, trailing only the 10 scored in the second half of a game against Texas Tech on Jan. 17, 1998.

Spears finished with a team-high 13 points, most coming at the tail end of the second half. Britney Blythe scored a season-high seven points and had three rebounds off the bench while sophomore center Courtney Dunn had five points and three rebounds.

The Buffaloes fared better in the second half, scoring 27 points and hitting 43 percent, but it took a Kelly Jo Mullaney jumper in the key with one second remaining to get Colorado to 40, tying for the 10th lowest total in team history and the lowest since an 86-40 loss at Baylor on Feb. 22, 2006.

"It got away from us early. If we would have put forth the energy and execution that we did in the last 14 minutes, it's a different game," McConnell-Miller said. "(Seton Hall) got hot early and it gave them a little confidence. We looked so stiff and so methodical on open layups and shots. Seton Hall noticed it, the sign of an experienced team and a team that really wants it, and they attacked and came at us good."

Seton Hall dominated the front court, outrebounding the Buffaloes 52-24 and outscoring them in the paint 34-8. The Pirates were led by Noteisha Womack who recorded a double-double with 12 points and seven rebounds. Ebonie Williams and Nicole Emery each had 16 points for Seton Hall. Kandice Green had eight points and 10 rebounds off the bench.

Colorado returns to action on Friday, Dec. 12, by hosting Southern University at 7 p.m. at the Coors Events/Conference Center.