BUFFS GET FIRST BIG 12 WIN AGAINST MISSOURI, 56-51

Tuesday, January 18

Columbia, Mo.

6 p.m.

Colorado

8-7, 1-3Big 12

Missouri

7-9, 1-4Big 12

Colorado

Missouri

Photo by: CUBuffs.com

January 18, 2005 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: CUBuffs.com

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Freshman Jackie McFarland recorded her third career double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds as Colorado beat Missouri, 56-51, to claim its first Big 12 Conference victory of the season, Tuesday at the Mizzou Arena.

McFarland hit 8-of-12 from the field and tied her career high in rebounds. She scored 14 of her 20 points in the second half as CU outscored the Tigers 36-23 in the period.

A McFarland layup gave CU the lead for good at 43-42 with 9:50 remaining in the game, but the Tigers kept it close. Despite going nearly eight minutes without a field goal, MU kept pace and was down just one (52-51) with 1:11 remaining. Colorado's defense played solid forcing a pair of misses and receiving a key steal from senior Veronica Johns-Richardson, one of four on the night. The Buffs put the game away at the free-throw line as Anna Nedovic hit a pair and Sarah Lini hit one in the final 26 seconds.

Lini scored a career-high 12 points with a personal-best five field goals. Freshman Lauren Lubin had a career-high seven rebounds for the Buffaloes.

Missouri scored the first nine points of the game and led 12-2 just 3:29 into the contest. The Tigers shot 42.3 percent in the first half (11-of-26) but fell apart in the second period hitting just six of 26 attempts (21.3 percent). Colorado's defense also forced 29 Tiger turnovers.

Carlynn Savant lead the Tigers with 12 points and 6 rebounds.

Colorado (8-7, 1-3 Big 12) now travels to Oklahoma State to take on the Cowgirls Saturday, Jan. 22 at 5 p.m.