WOMEN'S BASKETBALL FALLS 76-64 TO IOWA STATE

Saturday, January 8

Boulder, Colo.

7 p.m.

Colorado

7-6, 0-2Big 12

Iowa State

12-1, 2-0Big 12

Iowa State

Colorado

Photo by: CUBuffs.com

January 08, 2005 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: CUBuffs.com

The Colorado women's basketball team hung tough with Iowa State, but it wasn't enough as the Cyclones, led by senior guard Anne O'Neil, defeated the Buffaloes 76-64 Saturday evening at the Coors Events Center in Boulder.

Freshman center Kara Richards had a game-high 24 points for the Buffs (7-6, 0-2 Big 12), but she represented the only Colorado player with double-digits in the scoring column. Her scoring output matched her career-high.

The first half was a tight match until Iowa State (12-1, 2-0 Big 12) started to pull away in the last five minutes to take a 42-33 halftime lead. The Cyclones began the second half with an 8-2 run and opened their lead to 16 points when sophomore guard Megan Ronhovde knocked down a three-pointer from the right side.

The Buffs responded with a run of their own, as Richards converted a three-point play, igniting the home crowd of 2,063 and pulling Colorado within six points with 13:21 remaining in the second half.

With 3:59 left in the game, senior guard Veronica Johns-Richardson made a three-pointer to pull the Buffs within four points. But that was the closest they would get, as Iowa State responded with every attempt Colorado made to pull even.

“Every time we got within striking distance Iowa State kept their composure and made big shots,” Colorado head coach Ceal Barry said. “They did a good job of not rolling over as we made our run.”

Johns-Richardson had nine points, five rebounds and four assists. Anna Nedovic had six points and a team-high nine rebounds.

The Buffs played some of their best basketball of the season, even though it came in defeat. Iowa State came into the game on the heels of a 78-59 upset over No. 20 Kansas State on Wednesday.

“For 40 minutes we competed against a very good team,” Barry said. “We definitely had our chances.”

Colorado will remain in Boulder to host the Texas Tech Red Raiders on Saturday with tip-off scheduled for 7:00 p.m. The game will be televised on FSN-Rocky Mountain.