Colorado University Athletics
Colorado
12-8, 2-5Big 12
Nebraska
19-0, 6-0Big 12
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | 37 | 43 | 80 |
| Colorado | 29 | 35 | 64 |
Cornhuskers Prove Their Ranking vs. Buffs
January 30, 2010 | Women's Basketball, B.G. Brooks
BOULDER - Nebraska is a Top 10 women's basketball program for a reason - several of them, in fact. Colorado was (mis)treated to most, if not all, Saturday afternoon.
The No. 6/4 Cornhuskers pulled away from the Buffaloes in the game's final 8 minutes en route to an 80-64 Big 12 Conference victory at the Coors Events Center.
"There's no doubt that Nebraska is one of the top teams in our conference and the country," CU coach Kathy McConnell-Miller said. "They've got a very, very solid starting five . . . I would match them up with any in the country."
That experienced fivesome, with senior forward Kelsey Griffin the centerpiece, has the Huskers living the good life. They are 19-0 and one of only two undefeated teams in women's basketball - the other being No. 1 Connecticut. Nebraska also is 6-0 for the first time ever in conference play.
CU, meanwhile, lost its third consecutive game and its fifth in six outings, dropping to 12-8 overall and 2-5 in the Big 12. The Buffs don't play again until Feb. 6 at Baylor (6:30 p.m., MST), and their next home game is Feb. 10 against Texas (7 p.m., FSN).
Saturday's game launched a four-game stretch against ranked opponents, but McConnell-Miller wants her players focused on only the next foe. It's one game at a time, she said: "We have to get back in the flow, and we have some time (this week) to look at where we are and where we need to be."
McConnell-Miller believed her players mostly "worked hard" defensively against the Huskers, "But we didn't limit Kelsey Griffin's inside touches at all."
As a result, the 6-foot-2 Griffin, an All-America candidate, was the game's high scorer with 24 points and was one of four Huskers in double figures.
CU freshman Chucky Jeffery led the Buffs with 14 points and 11 rebounds - her first career double-double. Bianca Smith added 14 points and Courtney Dunn and Brittany Spears 10 each.
"I wasn't aware that I had a double-double," Jeffery said. "It would have been way more sweet if we'd won."
Trailing by 14 points in the first half, the Buffs got their last 12 points before intermission on a conventional three-point play by Spears, then three consecutive treys - one by Dunn and a pair by Smith - to close to 37-29 at the break.
But once again, CU struggled early shooting, hitting only five of 15 field goal attempts (33.3 percent) halfway through the first 20 minutes. The Buffs led just once (7-6) in the opening half, and that proved to be their only advantage of the afternoon.
"We don't want to be this come back team," McConnell-Miller said. "That's no way to live, no way to exist in this game."
CU's shooting improved (46.2 percent in the second half, 44.2 for the game) and the Buffs won the boards battle, 36-27. But Nebraska, winning for only the sixth time in history in Boulder (25 losses), checked out at 54.9 percent from the field.
Also plaguing the Buffs were 20 turnovers to the Huskers' 12, and Nebraska added 10 steals with its pressure defense.
"Pressing is their mentality," McConnell-Miller said. "That's just the way they play."
The Huskers help Spears to 8.1 points below her average, and Nebraska coach Connie Yori lauded her players for their work: "You have to know her tendencies, and Dominique (Kelley) did a good job defensively . . . I think she played a great game and was a factor on both ends."
Nebraska's depth and experience showed early on, with eight players scoring in the first half, led by Kelley (nine) and Griffin (eight). Kelley finished with 18, while Cory Montgomery and Yvonne Turner added 11 each.
CU closed to within 38-33 to start the second half, but Nebraska answered with a 12-4 run to go back up by 13 (50-37) with 14:09 to play.
The Buffs kept battling, cutting the Huskers' advantage to 50-44 on a Meagan Malcolm-Peck trey from the right corner with 12 minutes remaining.
CU got no closer than eight points the rest of the way and trailed by 19 twice in the final 3 minutes, with Nebraska clearly justifying its ranking and Griffin the accolades waiting to come her way.
"She is one of a kind and we are very fortunate that she is here," Yori said of Griffin. "She is such a great teammate and makes everyone better."
Yori's starting lineup is composed of three seniors, a junior and a freshman. McConnell-Miller's entire roster features only two seniors - Dunn and Smith.
"That is where our young players are going to be as seniors," McConnell-Miller said, eyeing Nebraska. "They are battle-tested and have fought the fight consistently in this conference.
"And this conference is not for the average player - not for players that doubt themselves, but for players who have an arrogance or confidence about themselves, who can stand up every night and take the hits."
While Jeffery and the young Buffs still are learning that, Griffin and the veteran Huskers already know how to deliver the first - and last - blows. All that savvy (and more) showed Saturday.
Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU
