Colorado University Athletics
Colorado
13-14,3-11Big 12
Texas A&M
20-7, 8-6Big 12
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas A&M | 45 | 50 | 95 |
| Colorado | 25 | 36 | 61 |
Smith Gets Record, But Buffs Blown Out
February 27, 2010 | Women's Basketball, B.G. Brooks
BOULDER - It didn't resemble how she would have scripted it, but Bianca Smith submitted a record-setting performance on Saturday at the Coors Events Center.
With a pair of first-half treys, Colorado's sharpshooting senior guard topped Shelley Sheetz (252) as CU's top three-point shooter. Smith, of Missouri City, Texas, finished with four three-pointers, giving her 255 for her career.
But Smith's output was as good as it got for the Buffaloes, who were soundly beaten by No. 12/15 Texas A&M, 95-61.
Smith's two second-half treys enabled her match her own school record of 80 in a season. She finished with a game-high 22 points before going to the bench with 1:15 to play.
"Shelley was a great player . . . I'm humbled to break her record; I never thought I'd have a chance at it when I first got here," Smith said. "Now I can focus on trying to get these next two 'W's."
With two regular-season games remaining, CU slipped below .500 (13-14) and 3-11 in the Big 12 Conference, while A&M improved to 20-7, 8-6.
CU hosts Kansas State Wednesday (7 p.m.) before traveling to No. 15/13 Iowa State on Saturday, March 6 (1 p.m., MST) for the final regular-season game.
Aside from Smith, the only other Buffs player in double figures was Alyssa Fressle with 12. Leading scorer Brittany Spears was held to seven points after totaling 60 in her past two outings.
CU started efficiently against A&M, going ahead by five points, then just as quickly falling behind by a dozen. And after rallying to within a respectable 25-20, the Buffs hit the skids again.
By halftime, the Aggies' relentless pressure had forced 15 turnovers and the Buffs were facing a 20-point (45-25) deficit.
CU coach Kathy McConnell-Miller said once the Aggies "got on a roll, we couldn't battle with them. And once the frustration set in, it was a tough, tough night for the Buffs."
They were coming off an 80-79 overtime win at Missouri, their second road victory of the season, and were hopeful that momentum might push them to their first win against a ranked opponent in their 21 most recent tries.
Maybe next time or time after that . . . in the Big 12, playing ranked opponents is commonplace. The conference has had half or more of its members in the Top 25 for most of the season.
CU was mauled in the paint, outscored 40-24, in bench production, 35-11, and outrebounded, 37-22. McConnell-Miller reiterated that her program, which has become top-heavy with guards, lacks a productive inside presence.
That absence never was more apparent than Saturday, and McConnell-Miller acknowledged, "it's devastating us right now."
Three A&M frontcourt players - starters Damitria Buchanan, Adaora Elonu and reserve Danielle Adams - combined to make 18 of 21 field goal attempts. Their inside accuracy was a big reason A&M shot 63.6 percent (35-of-55) from the field.
Aggies coach Gary Blair noted his team shot and shared the ball (18 assists) extremely well. He also lent his support to McConnell-Miller, saying patience in large quantities is required to build a program in the Big 12.
Blair also congratulated Smith, who once attended his summer camps: "I was happy to see her get the record against us . . . . She's one of the best catch-and-shoot shooters in the league. She wasn't a Big 12 player when she got here, but this staff has developed her."
In the second half, the Aggies - more athletic at most positions and relentless with their pressure defense - kept the Buffs at bay.
But with the lead at 59-33, CU's Meagan Malcolm-Peck and Chelsea Dale hit back-to-back three-pointers to cut the margin to 18 (59-41) with just over 12 minutes remaining.
That was close enough for the Aggies, who put the hammer down again and forged 30-plus point leads in the game's final 51/2 minutes. Their biggest lead was 36 points with 1:52 left.
Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU
