Colorado University Athletics
Colorado
6-4
Northern Colorado
2-9
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Colorado | 32 | 26 | 58 |
| Colorado | 45 | 32 | 77 |
BUFFS GO TO LONG BALL IN WIN OVER NORTHERN COLORADO
December 29, 2004 | Women's Basketball
BOULDER -- Colorado hit a season-high 13 3-point field goals, including a school-record tying seven by senior guard Veronica Johns-Richardson, as the Buffaloes knocked out Northern Colorado 77-58 in front of 2,090 fans at the Coors Events Conference Center Wednesday night.
CU wins its fourth straight game to improve to 6-4 while UNC falls to 2-9.
Johns-Richardson's seven triples mark the fourth time a CU player has achieved the feat. Former teammate Kate Fagan did it twice (last against Buffalo on Jan. 3, 2004) and Annan Wilson set the original standard on Jan. 14, 1989, at Kansas State. Johns-Richardson was 7-of-11 from 3-point range and finished with 25 points, all of which are career-highs.
"I'm playing guard this year, so my shots are at the top of the key and from the corner," Johns-Richardson said. "My shots are in rythm with the offense and it helps me stay in the flow. Coach (Ceal Barry) and the team have a lot of faith in me and that helps get the ball in."
Johns-Richardson, who had only 10 3-point field goals all of last season, vaulted from 15th to 12th on CU's career 3-point list, now standing at 45. She leads the Buffs in 2004-05 with 15.
Not to be outdone, forward Anna Nedovic matched her career-high of 23 points and had a personal best 11 rebounds. Nedovic, who also had 23 in the season opener against Loyola Marymount, notched her team-leading third double-double of the season.
As a team Colorado shot 51.6 percent in the first half (16-of-31) to build a 45-32 lead. The Buffs improved their lead to 20 (66-46) at the 10:45 mark of the second half, but UNC scored seven straight to cut the lead to 13. Colorado then turned on the defense, holding the Bears to just five points for the final 8:12 of the contest. Kendra Lambrecht led the Bears with 14 points.
"We executed better this game than we did at Washington," CU head coach Ceal Barry said. "Most of our shots came out of the offense and the assists (on 21 of 27 field goals) were nice to see. We're not perfect, but with experience we'll get better."
Whitney Law scored a season low three points, but made up for it with a career-high eight assists and seven rebounds. Jasmina Ilic was CU's next leading scorer with eight points as all 10 Buffs on the active roster scored at least two points.
