Colorado University Athletics
Higgins and Richards Score Athlete of the Week Honors
March 10, 2009 | General, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball
BOULDER- University of Colorado basketball stand-outs Cory Higgins (sophomore) and Kara Richards (senior) scored the Athlete of the Week honors for the week of March 2-8. This marks Higgins fifth career honor, all of which have come this season. As for Richards, this is her first honor of the season and the second of her career. This is the fourth week this season that both male and female honors have been awarded to the basketball nominees.
Higgins, a Danville, Calif. (The Pendleton School [Bradenton, Fla.]) native, averaged 24.5 points per game and shot 50 percent from the field in Colorado's 0-2 week. Higgins was 17-of-34 from the field, 13-of-16 from the free throw line (.813) and averaged 4.5 rebounds per game. It was also Higgins' ninth and 10th 20-point efforts of the season for the All-Big 12 Conference third team selection. The Buffaloes led at the half in each game against Texas A&M and Kansas State, however fell in the second half to drop to 9-21 on the season. Higgins scored 27 points against the Aggies, and then followed with a team-high 22 points (8-of-8 at the free throw line) against the Wildcats.
Richards, a Graham, Texas (Graham) native, led the Buffs' on senior night with 19 points in the teams 71-61 loss to Kansas State. Richards fell just short of recording a double-double as she grabbed eight rebounds. She shot 8-of-14 from the field and 3-of-5 from the charity stripe. Earlier in the week at Nebraska Richards recorded a game high 24 points in CU's 75-64 loss to the Cornhuskers. Her seven rebounds tied with teammate Brittany Spears for the team high. Richards shot 11-of-21 from the floor, and 2-of-5 from the free throw line. Richards received All-Big 12 honorable mention honors for her strong effort in her senior season. Although she has played her last game as a Buff at the Coors Conference/Events Center she has not played her last game in Black and Gold. Richards will lead CU at the Big 12 tournament which kicks off on Thursday.
