The mighty University of Colorado Buffaloes stand alone as the only women’s team left with a perfect record. Going into last Thursday there were three undefeated teams in all of women’s college basketball. North Carolina and Arizona continued to match Colorado with perfect and dominating seasons. Then on that fateful night, UNC lost to NC State and Arizona lost three days later to USC.
The Lady Tar Heels started 13-0 but had not played a ranked team until going against the Wolfpack. North Carolina coach Courtney Banghart might have also helped to hasten their first loss by adding a little fuel to the Wolfpack’s fire when she was asked about the environment the game would be played in since NC State’s Reynolds Coliseum was a sellout.
“It’s a small gym, so it doesn’t take a lot to sell it out,” Banghart said on a pregame teleconference. “We’ll play in front of more fans at other places.”
Reynolds was refurbished recently and holds approximately 5,600 fans now. Not huge, but the Wolfpack’s effort was, as they out-rebounded the Tar Heels 53-40 and held them to 23.1% shooting from the field. All-American center Elissa Cunane led NC State to a huge 72-45 win with 19 points and 13 rebounds.
Arizona’s loss was even more surprising in that they were 11-0, ranked #4 in the country, had beaten #6 Louisville earlier in the year 61-59, and the University of Southern California was not even a ranked team. USC shot 45.5% from the field, 57.1% from three-point range, and just had a better all around game in winning 76-67. Senior Cate Reese for Arizona scored 29 points, but she was a one woman team and had no help.
So now The Lady Buffaloes are alone at the top and only need to keep winning. Colorado still has to play No. 2 Stanford twice and No. 7 Arizona once in the coming weeks to show if their greatness and perfectness will continue.
Article by: Chris Steele, iHearts143Quotes Team member
