Colorado University Athletics
BUFFS HOPE TO STRIKE GOLD AT NEVADA'S NUGGET CLASSIC
QUICKLY...The University of Colorado (22-8, 11-5 Big 12 in 2004-05) will officially open the 2004-05 season at the University of Nevada Nugget Classic, Nov. 19-20, at the Lawlor Events Center in Reno, Nev. The Buffaloes will play Loyola Marymount University on Friday, Nov. 19, at 6:30 p.m. MST, while the host Wolfpack plays Cal-State University-Fullerton at 8 p.m. MST. Colorado will play its second game on Saturday against either Nevada or Cal State-Fullerton. With a win over LMU, the Buffs will play in SaturdayGÇÖs championship game at 7 p.m. MST. A loss would put CU in the consolation game at 2 p.m. MST.
BUFFS ON THE AIR...All Colorado womenGÇÖs basketball regular and post season games are broadcast live on KKZN AM 760, BoulderGÇÖs Progressive Talk station. Tim Smile will handle play by play duties and is joined by USA BasketballGÇÖs Carol Callan with the color commentary.
31st SEASON...Colorado is embarking on its 31st season of varsity womenGÇÖs basketball with an all-time record of 577-314 (.647). The Buffaloes have made 12 NCAA Tournament appearances, all since 1988, including six Sweet 16 appearances and three trips to the Elite Eight (1993, 1995 & 2002).
ABOUT THE BUFFS...Colorado returns six letterwinners and one starter from a 2003-04 team that finished 22-8 and in third place in the Big 12 Conference at 11-5. Senior guard Veronica Johns-Richardson is the BuffsGÇÖ lone returning starter averaging 7.5 points and 2.7 rebounds as a junior. Johns-Richardson played the majority of her minutes at forward last year, but is expected to move back to point guard -- a position she played in high school and her first year at CU.
The Buffs will look to offset the loss of seven letterwinners with a group of young players and a couple players who have been waiting patiently for their moment in the sun. Forward Sarah Lini, CUGÇÖs other senior with Johns-Richardson, has spent the last three seasons backing up such BuffsGÇÖ standouts as Sabrina Scott and Randie Wirt. Junior guard Whitney Law is just itching to get out on the court. Law sat out the 2002-03 season after transferring from Georgia and then just four games into 2003-04, she suffered a season-ending knee injury. Sophomore Jasmina Ilic played in six games last season after joining the team in December from Serbia. Anna Nedovic and Leslie Howard each played in the majority of games last season, combining for just over five points and two rebounds per contest.
NEWCOMERS TO CONTRIBUTE...Colorado welcomes six new players -- four true freshmen and two transfers -- for the 2004-05 season. Freshman center Kara Richards is expected to see the most playing time as the two-time Texas All-State selection has been penciled in as a starter. Forward Jackie McFarland has All-State credentials of her own from Derby (Kan.) High School where she was the Ark Valley League MVP. A pair of guards will give CU much needed depth. A true point guard, Yari Escalera averaged 24 points and eight assists for her Colegio San Antonio Abad program in Humacao, Puerto Rico. CU will also use the services of walk-on freshman Lauren Lubin, who is actually in her sophomore year as a student at Colorado, but did not play last year. Lubin played at New Trier High School in Winnetka, Ill., where she earned Illinois Basketball Coaches Association All-State honors.
Junior center Tami Garnett joins the Buffaloes after spending last season at Central Arizona College and is eligible immediately. Garnett helped CAC to a third place national tournament finish last winter. Forward Courtney Wallace is a walk-on player who transferred to CU after playing two seasons at CU-Colorado Springs. She will sit out and redshirt the 2004-05 season due to NCAA transfer rules and will have two years of eligibility remaining next winter.
Download the complete release and exhibition statistics below (pdf).