Colorado University Athletics
Colorado-UC Irvine Notes
November 15, 2009 | Women's Basketball
Colorado snaps a six-game losing streak dating back to last season. The Buffaloes improve to 31-6 all-time in season openers, 34-2 in home openers and 24-0 when the overall season opener is played at home.
Colorado improves to 3-0 all-time against UC Irvine and 14-6 against teams in the Big West Conference.
Starting Lineup: The Buffaloes started G Whitney Houston, G Alyssa Fressle, G/F Brittany Spears, F Meagan Malcolm-Peck and F Julie Seabrook. It was the first career starts for Seabrook and Malcolm-Peck. Malcolm-Peck gives CU four straight years of starting a true freshman (Bianca Smith in 2006, Spears in 2007 and Fressle in 2008).
Houston made her 21st career start, first since 2007-08. Spears started her 54th consecutive game as a Buffalo.
COMEBACK: Colorado's comeback from a 14-point halftime deficit to win against UC Irvine ties for the third-largest margin achieved in team history. The Buffaloes trailed the Anteaters 33-19 at the break before outscoring them 42-23 in the final 20 minutes.
Colorado came back from 19 down against the University of Washington on Dec. 21, 1982, at the Guisti Tournament in Portland, Ore.CU trailed 35-16 at halftime before winning 67-65. Colorado came back from 15 points down against Kansas State on Jan. 31, 2007, that game included a 23-0 second half run.
CU's Top Halftime Comebacks:
Date Opp. Half Final Margin
12/21/82 Washington (N) UW 35-16 CU 67-65 19
1/31/07 Kansas State (H) KS 39-24 CU 66-55 15
11/15/09 UC Irvine (H) UCI 33-19 CU 61-56 14
12/1/83 Wyoming (A) UW 35-21 CU 57-56 14
12/20/03 Southern Cal (A) SC 39-27 CU 69-67 12
2/19/00 Texas (H) UT 38-26 CU 79-65 12
Brittany Spears recorded her 16th career double-double finishing with 18 points and 14 rebounds. Her 14 rebounds tie a career high (at Baylor, 2/27/08) and give her exactly 500 for her career. She is the 19th Buffalo to reach that milestone.
Happy Birthday: CU assistant coach Tom McConnell is celebrating his 50th birthday today. McConnell is in his fourth season on the CU staff and is the older brother of CU head coach Kathy McConnell-Miller.
Captains Named: Before the game head coach Kathy McConnell-Miller announced that Brittany Spears, Whitney Houston and Bianca Smith were named captains for the 2009-10 season. Smith is a captain for the second straight year while Houston and Spears are first time captains. CU captains are voted on by the players.
