(Josh Shettler/CU Independent Illustration)
(Josh Shettler/CU Independent Illustration)

CUI sports mailbag: Lappe’s Buffs

It’s officially basketball season, and the CUI sports staff couldn’t be more excited. With a 70-65 win over the University of Idaho in its home opener on Sunday, the women’s basketball team is looking as strong as ever. This week’s mailbag is all about Linda Lappe’s ladies.

(Josh Shettler/CU Independent Illustration)

1) What was the Buffs’ overall record last year? Did the team lose many seniors, and who are the new freshmen?

The Buffs’ overall record last year was 23-12. The team lost only one graduating senior in forward Julie Seabrook, and she is replaced by an impressive freshman recruiting class that consists of Kyleesha Weston, Jamee Swan, Lauren Huggins and Alexus Atchley. Weston is a 5-foot-7-inch true point guard from Missouri who played in the annual HyVee/Pepsi Greater Kansas City Basketball Coaches’ Association All-Star Challenge. Swan, a 6-foot-2-inch forward from Arizona, was ranked the 8th-best high school forward in the nation last season and was a McDonald’s All-America nominee. Huggins, the lone Coloradan of the newcomers, is a 6-foot-1-inch guard/forward from Littleton. Huggins was ranked the 64th-best high school player in the nation last season. Atchley is a walk-on from California. The 5-foot-9-inch guard led her high school team to back-to-back Empire League state championships. Finally, we can’t forget about redshirt freshman Arielle Roberson, a 6-foot-1-inch guard from Texas who averaged 18.2 points in her senior season at Wagner High School in San Antonio.

2) Who deserves MVP status for the win over Idaho? The CUI sports staff nominates redshirt freshman Arielle Roberson. Roberson was out for the entirety of last season with an unexpected injury, but she showed up strong in her official debut. Roberson recorded 16 total points, two blocks and five steals against the Vandals to earn the first-ever Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honor, which is a new addition to the conference’s weekly awards this season. Roberson said before the start of the season that she is aiming for Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, and she certainly has the potential to achieve that goal.

3) What’s going on with Chucky Jeffery?

Good question. Jeffery, an all-star senior who led the Buffs in points and rebounds in the 2011-2012 season, has sat out for the first two games of the season, an exhibition against Western State Colorado and the home opener against Idaho. Head coach Linda Lappe told the press that Jeffery broke team policy and is in the middle of serving a suspension from play. Though the lady Buffs have looked good in their two games so far, it’s safe to say that they’d probably look even better with their star player on the floor. When asked if she was going to hit the hardwood for the team’s first away game in Missouri this Sunday, Lappe answered, “Possibly.” Looks to be just a bit of early season drama to get the season going — let’s hope we don’t see too much of it as the season progresses.
Have something to ask the CUI sports staff? Email [email protected] or tweet @cuindependent with your question, and we’ll address it in next week’s mailbag!
Contact CU Independent Sports Editors Caryn Maconi and Ryan Sterner at [email protected] and [email protected]. 

About Caryn Maconi

Caryn in a junior Journalism: News-Editorial major at CU with an emphasis in sociology. She is an avid Buffs fan and has been on the CUI sports staff for three semesters. Caryn is also the communications manager for the student-run sports broadcast CU SportsMag. Caryn is working towards a licensure in elementary education. She loves working with kids, writing and being outside, whether she's swimming, biking and running with the CU Triathlon Team or just enjoying a hike in the Flatirons. Her dream job would combine writing with her love for fitness and the outdoors!

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