Colorado University Athletics
Buffaloes Travel To Battle No. 20/23 Iowa State Saturday
THE GAME: The University of Colorado continues Big 12 Conference action by traveling to face Iowa State University on Saturday, Feb. 19, at 6 p.m. MST at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa.
BROADCAST: Saturday's game will be broadcast on KKZN AM 760. Mike Rice will have the play-by-play. Live internet audio is available on CUBuffs.com, through the BuffsRadio free subscription. Live internet video streaming of Saturday's game is available to BuffsTV premium subscribers, courtesy of Iowa State and Cyclones.com.
OPENING TIP: Senior Brittany Spears needs just nine points to catch Jackie McFarland for second place on CU's all-time scoring list. McFarland, who was a senior during Spears' freshman season, scored 1,957 from 2004-08.
THE BUFFALOES: Colorado is 12-12 overall and tied with Oklahoma State and Kansas for ninth place in the Big 12 standings at 3-8. Colorado is just one game behind eighth place Missouri (4-7) and two behind sixth place Texas Tech and Iowa State (both at 5-6). The Buffaloes, who have already matched their league win total from a year ago (3-13), will now look to match their 2009-10 overall win total of 13 (13-17). The Buffaloes will be looking for their first win away from Boulder this season (0-8) and first true road win in nine tries dating back to the 2009-10 campaign.
Colorado is averaging 61.4 points per game while shooting 40 percent from the field. Defensively the Buffaloes are giving up 60.2 points per game while allowing 38.8 percent from the field. Colorado has been winning the battle of the boards, outrebounding or equaling its opponent in 18-of-24 games and by an average of 5.2 boards an outing (more on CU rebounding below).
Senior guard/forward Brittany Spears leads CU and ranks seventh in the Big 12 in scoring at 17.3 points per game. She is also first in defensive rebounds (6.0 drpg), fourth in overall rebounding (8.2 rpg), sixth in 3-point field goals (2.1 3mpg), 10th in minutes (32.0 mpg), 11th in blocked shots (1.0 bpg) and free-throw percentage (.786) and 12th steals (1.7 spg).
Spears has eight double-doubles this season, third in the Big 12, and notched career double-double No. 30 with a 12-point, 11-rebound effort against Texas Tech. She has logged double digits in scoring in 22-of-24 games this season and in 101-of-117 career outings. Her 101 career games in double-figures is the third most in team history trailing only Lisa Van Goor (108 from 1980-85) and Jackie McFarland (102 from 2004-08). Spears, who tied her own team season-high 26 points in the win over Nebraska, also leads the team in 3-point field goals (50) and blocks (25) and is second in steals (41) and rebounds on a per game basis (8.2 rpg).
Sophomore guard Chucky Jeffery is CU's top rebounder on a per-game basis (8.3 rpg) while ranking second on the team in scoring at 14.2 an outing. Jeffery has seven double-doubles this season, ranking fifth in the Big 12, including the second triple-double in team history by recording 10 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists against Loyola Chicago.
Jeffery leads the Big 12 in steals (2.9 spg) while ranking second in overall rebounding and defensive rebounds (6.0 drpg), sixth in assists (4.5 apg), 11th in offensive rebounds (2.4 orpg), 12th in field-goal percentage (.485) and 13th in scoring and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.1).
Sophomore guard/forward Meagan Malcolm-Peck is averaging 6.8 points and 4.4 rebounds and is second on the team in 3-point field goals (27) and third in blocked shots (14). She tops the Big 12 in 3-point percentage during league play at 48 percent (12-of-25) and is 10th on the league's overall season charts at 39.1 percent (27-of-69).
Junior forward Julie Seabrook is averaging 5.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game while shooting a team best 49.1 percent from the field (57-of-116). She has shot 60 percent or better in 11 games, and 50 percent or better in 14 outings. Seabrook ranks 13th in the Big 12 in rebounding during Big 12 games at 6.2 per game and she is ninth in offensive rebounding at 2.6 per contest. She has four games of double-digit rebounds, including a season-best 11 boards in the win over Missouri.
Freshman guard Brittany Wilson is averaging 8.2 points and 3.8 rebounds per game and is one of three Buffs -- joining Spears and Jeffery -- with at least 30 assists and 30 steals. Her 31 total steals rank fourth among freshmen in the Big 12. Wilson set a career-high by scoring 22 points in the loss at Kansas and dished out a personal-best six assists against Nebraska.
Senior guard Britney Blythe has had recent success from downtown making 10 of her last 23 (.438), including a 3-for-6 effort in the win over Nebraska. She has hit 36.7 percent from deep during the Big 12 season, ranking 11th on the league charts.
Freshman center Rachel Hargis is becoming a solid player off the bench. Hargis is averaging 3.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocked shots over the last six games, including career highs with six points and eight rebounds in 26 minutes against Nebraska. Hargis ranks second on the team in blocked shots with 15 and also has 15 steals on her resume.
ABOUT THE CYCLONES: No. 20 (AP)/23 (WBCA) ranked Iowa State is 17-8 overall and tied with Texas Tech for sixth place in the Big 12 at 5-6, one spot behind Texas which is in fifth at 6-5. The Cyclones have lost three of their last four, although all three of those setbacks have come on the road. ISU is a sterling 13-1 at home this season, with its only loss coming at the hands of Texas A&M, currently ranked No. 5 (AP & WBCA) in the country. Iowa State sports the third-best field goal defense in the Big 12 at 35.4 percent while giving up just 55.4 points per game, fourth-best on the league charts. Long known as a 3-point shooting team, ISU ranks fourth in the Big 12 in that category at 6.8 per game while shooting 37.7 percent.
Senior guard Kelsey Bolte leads the Cyclones at 17.9 points per game, accounting for more than a quarter of her team's scoring per game (66.0 ppg). Bolte is the Big 12's most accurate 3-point shooter at 45.1 percent and her 2.8 per game average ranks second. Iowa State has four other players averaging right around 8-10 points per game. Freshman forward Hallie Christofferson averages 9.8 per contest while shooting a team-best 55 percent from the field. Sophomore post Anna Prins is at 9.8 points per game and is a threat from outside with 20 3-pointers this season. Sophomore Chelsea Poppens averages a team-best 7.3 rebounds per game while pitching in 8.2 points. Junior guard Lauren Mansfield also averages 8.6 points per game while ranking second in the Big 12 at 5.6 assists per outing.
SERIES RECORDS: This will be the 67th meeting between Colorado and Iowa State with the Buffaloes holding a 37-29 series edge. Colorado snapped an eight-game losing streak to the Cyclones in the season's first meeting, a 66-60 overtime triumph on Jan. 15 in Boulder. Overall ISU has won 13 of the last 15 contests and the last six at Hilton. The Cyclones lead the all-time series in Ames 15-12. CU 's last win at Hilton was a 62-51 decision on Jan. 25, 2004.
COLORADO AND IOWA STATE, LAST 10:
Date
Result
Date
Result
1/15/11
(H)
W, 66-60 OT 3/11/08
(N) L,
50-76
3/6/10
(A)
L,
41-59
1/30/08
(A) L,
45-65
1/16/10
(H)
L,
62-68
1/13/08
(H) L,
77-84
2OT
2/25/09
(A)
L,
63-76 2/17/07
(A)
L, 55-74
2/7/09
(H)
L,
47-53
1/10/07
(H) W,
81-67
CONNECTIONS: Iowa State head coach Bill Fennelly, in his 15th season, is one of five Big 12 coaches that were at their current position when CU head coach Linda Lappe played for the Buffaloes from 1998-2003. Lappe is an Iowa native, as is assistant coach Jennie Baranczyk who was a standout at ISU's rival Iowa from 2000-04. ISU assistant coach Jodi Steyer played at Colorado State, graduating in 1989 as the Rams' all-time leading scorer. ISU sophomore center Anna Prins is a native of Broomfield, Colo.
BUFFS REBOUNDING: One of Colorado's biggest improvements as a team this year is rebounding. The Buffaloes are currently averaging 39.6 rebounds per game while allowing just 34.4 per contest. CU's rebounding margin of +5.2 ranks sixth in the Big 12 and 39th in NCAA Division I through games of Feb. 23. In 2009-10 the Buffaloes averaged just 35.1 per contest while allowing opponents 36.9 a game.
Colorado has equaled or outrebounded 18-of-24 opponents this season, and three of those games where CU was outrebounded, it was by two or fewer boards. Colorado has equaled or outrebounded seven Big 12 opponents this year compared to just four of 16 Big 12 games in 2010.
CU pulled down a season high 53 rebounds in the win over Missouri, tying for the most ever by the Buffaloes in a Big 12 game. CU also had 53 in a 69-40 win at Texas A&M on Feb. 8, 1997. Colorado's 20 offensive rebounds were its most in a Big 12 game since grabbing 20 in a 67-53 win over Texas on Feb. 16, 2008. Colorado's plus-18 rebound margin against Nebraska (45-27) was its most in a Big 12 game since out dueling Texas 50-29 (+21) on the boards on Feb. 16, 2008.
REBOUNDING IOWA STATE-COLORADO STYLE: Second shot opportunities may be at a premium on Saturday. Iowa State and Colorado rank 1-2 in the Big 12 in defensive rebounding percentage. When an opponent's shot goes up, Iowa State claims the defensive board 73.3 percent of the time (703/959) while Colorado sports a 71.9 percent mark in the same scenario (629/875). The Buffaloes have given up the fewest offensive rebounds in the Big 12 this season (246). Iowa State leads the Big 12 in rebounding defense, allowing only 31.1 per game, while CU ranks fourth in that category at 34.5.
CU DOUBLES: Colorado is the only school in the Big 12 with two players sporting seven or more double-doubles this season. Senior Brittany Spears is tied with Baylor's Brittney Griner for third in the Big 12 with eight double-doubles, while sophomore Chucky Jeffery is in a three-way tie for fifth with seven.
Big 12
Double-Double Leaders
12 Toni Young,
Oklahoma State
10 Danielle Adams, Texas
A&M
8
Brittany Spears,
Colorado
8 Brittney Griner,
Baylor
7 Chucky Jeffery,
Colorado
7 Kierra Mallard, Texas
Tech
7
Kathleen Nash, Texas
Spears has 30 career double-doubles after her 12-point, 11-rebound performance against Texas Tech. Jeffery's career total is eight in her young career.
JEFFERY, SPEARS BEST REBOUNDING DUO IN BIG 12: Chucky Jeffery ranks third in the Big 12 in rebounding at 8.3 per game, just a fraction behind Oklahoma State's Toni Young and Texas A&M's Danielle Adams. Brittany Spears ranks fourth in the same category at 8.1 per contest. The CU duo's 16.5 boards per outing is the best mark for a pair of teammates in the Big 12:
1. Chucky Jeffery
(8.3), Brittany Spears (8.2), Colorado
16.5
2.
Kathleen Nash (8.1), Ashley Gayle (7.6),
Texas
15.7
3. Aishah
Sutherland (7.9), Carolyn Davis (7.3),
Kansas
15.2
4. Brittney
Griner (8.1), Melissa Jones (6.9),
Baylor
15.0
5. Danielle
Adams (8.5), Adaora Elonu (6.0), Texas
A&M 14.5
Spears and Jeffery also rank a nearly identical 1-2 overall on the league charts in defensive rebounds. Spears and Jeffery both average six defensive rebounds per game, with Spears' average just a hair higher (5.958 to 5.952).
BLYTHE PROTECTS THE ROCK: Senior guard Britney Blythe not only routinely takes on the task of guarding the opponents best offensive back court player, but she's among the best in the Big 12 this season in protecting the ball on the other end.
Blythe has just 27 turnovers this season, seven of which came in the first two games. She has turned the ball over only 20 times in the last 22 games had a string of four straight games without a turnover snapped against Texas.
Blythe is second in the Big 12 in fewest turnovers over a 40 minute stretch and is seventh for straight up turnovers per game (minimums are 75 percent of games played and 350 minutes played):
Big 12 Turnovers
Per 40 Minutes
Name,
School
MP
TO TO/40
Min
1.
Jordan Barncastle, Texas
Tech
467 18
1.54
2.
Britney Blythe,
Colorado
647 27
1.67
3.
Melissa Jones,
Baylor
751 32
1.70
4. Maryann
Baker, Texas
A&M
439 19
1.73
5. Sydney
Carter, Texas
A&M
715 31
1.73
Big 12 Turnovers
Per Game
Name,
School
GP
TO
TOPG
1.
Jordan Barncastle, Texas
Tech
24
18
0.75
2. Kelsey Harris, Iowa
State
25
19 0.76
3. Maryann Baker, Texas
A&M
24
19 0.79
4. Carol Blair-Mobley, Oklahoma
State
24
22 0.92
5. Jessica Periago,
Nebraska
25
24 0.96
6. Morgan Hook,
Oklahoma
25
27
1.08
7.
Britney Blythe,
Colorado
24
27 1.13
ACADEMIC BUFFS: Sophomore Meagan Malcolm-Peck and junior Julie Seabrook were named to the Academic All-Big 12 Conference Women's Basketball Second Team on Feb. 15, sporting cumulative GPA's above 3.0.
The league academic honor is the second for Seabrook, who was a first team pick in 2010, and the first for Malcolm-Peck, who is in her first season of eligibility for this recognition. Both are majoring in business.
Since the formation of the Big 12 for the 1996-97 season, CU's women's basketball team has had 61 Academic All-Big 12 selections, including 40 first team honorees.
COMMUNITY CHAMPION: Junior Julie Seabrook was named CU's member of the 2011 Winter Chick-fil-A Community of Champions team. One student-athlete at each Big 12 institution is awarded each fall, winter and spring term based on academics, community service, leadership and sportsmanship.
NOTING THE NEBRASKA GAME: Colorado's 25-point margin of victory over Nebraska (70-45) was its largest in a Big 12 game since defeating Kansas 73-42 in Boulder on Feb. 5, 2003. This was Colorado's largest margin of victory against Nebraska since a 95-60 home win on Feb. 6, 2002, nine years ago to the date. Colorado's 39 first half points were its most in a Big 12 game since scoring 40 against Kansas State on Feb. 23, 2008, a 73-68 CU win. Colorado's 18 assists were its most in a Big 12 games since dishing out 21 in an 82-71 loss to Iowa State on Feb. 7, 2009. The 45 points allowed to Nebraska was CU's lowest in Big 12 play since a 59-41 win over Kansas on Jan. 22, 2008.
BUFFS BREAK RANKING STREAK: Colorado's 66-60 overtime win over Iowa State broke a string of 24-straight losses to ranked teams and 21-game skid against teams ranked in both AP and WBCA Coaches polls (Iowa State was ranked only in the WBCA poll in one meeting last season as was Kansas State in two meetings in 2008-09). Prior to the upset, CU's last win over a ranked opponent was a 73-68 decision over No. 15/15 Kansas State on Feb. 23, 2008.
The last time the Buffaloes beat a ranked ISU team was on Jan. 23, 2002, in an 86-73 win at home. At that time, Colorado was ranked 20/19 as ISU secured a 14/10 position in the polls. The win marked the first time in history that a non-ranked Colorado team has beaten a ranked ISU squad.
SPEARS' STARTING STREAK: Senior Brittany Spears has started a school record 117 straight games. She passed the previous mark of Amy Mathern (1989-93) with her 113th straight start in the Texas game on Jan. 30. Spears' mark is also the record for consecutive starts at the beginning of a career as she passed Lisa Van Goor (1980-85) when she started her 101st game against Illinois on Dec. 4. With her scheduled 118th start coming up on Saturday, she will move into sole possession of third place for overall career starts, breaking her tie with CU Athletic Hall of Fame guard Bridget Turner and current CU Director of Basketball Operations Tracy Tripp who both started 117 games from 1985-89.
JEFFERY 'STEALS' THE SHOW: Sophomore Chucky Jeffery had a career and team season-high seven steals in the win over Colgate. It's the 21st time a Buff has registered seven or more steals in a game, but the first since Damietta Velicica had seven vs. Tulane on December 6, 1997. Jeffery, leads the Big 12 at 2.9 steals per game, has had six steals in three other games this season (Regis, Evansville and Kansas) and has at least three steals in 12 of 21 games.
JEFFERY'S TRIPLE-DOUBLE: Chucky Jeffery recorded the second triple-double in team history by totaling 10 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists in the Omni Hotels Classic Championship game against Loyola Chicago. The only other CU triple-double was by Sandy Bean vs. Utah State on Feb. 16, 1979. Bean had 19 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.
It marked career highs in both rebounds and assists for Jeffery as well as team season highs in both categories. She's the first CU player with 10 assists in a game since Susie Powers dished out 10 against Pepperdine on Jan. 4, 2008. Jeffery was awarded as the Classic's Most Valuable Player.
Jeffery's triple-double was the 18th in Big 12 Conference history (Baylor's Britteny Griner notched No. 19 the next day, Nov. 28) and she becomes the 11th different Big 12 player to record a triple-double.
SPEARS CLIMBING CAREER LADDERS: Senior guard/forward Brittany Spears scored 18 points at Kansas, becoming the third player in team history to reach 1,900 career points, now at 1,948 Spears also ranks second in field-goals made (712) and attempted (1,688), third in games started (117), fourth in rebounds (916), double-doubles (30), blocked shots (141) and 3-point field-goals made (206) and attempted (614), fifth in minutes (3,877), eighth in steals (217), and 11th in free-throws made (318) on CU's all-time charts.
Spears is now just nine points behind Jackie McFarland (2004-08) for second place on CU's all-time scoring list, 52 from becoming the second player in team history to score 2,000 and 119 behind all-time leading scorer Lisa Van Goor (1980-85). Based on a minimum six games remaining (five regular season, one Big 12 Championship), Spears needs to average 8.7 points per game to reach 2,000 and 19.8 per game to catch Van Goor.
TOUGH SCHEDULE: Colorado will potentially play 16 games - or 55 percent of the schedule - against teams that advanced to either the 2010 NCAA or WNIT postseason tournaments. Four of CU's 2010-11 opponents are ranked in the latest USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Coaches poll (#1 Baylor, #5 Texas A&M, # 15 Oklahoma and #23 Iowa State). Four are ranked in the latest Associated Press poll (#1 Baylor, #5 Texas A&M, #14 Oklahoma and #20 Iowa State).
HOME AT THE CECC: Colorado is traditionally tough at home with a 352-118 all-time record at the Coors Events/Conference Center (.749). The Buffaloes have won 10 or more games in a season at the CECC in 22 of the previous 33 years. The Buffaloes have enjoyed five undefeated seasons (1980-83, 1992-94) at the CECC.
BUFFS ON TV: Colorado's regular season schedule features nine games televised either regionally or nationally, seven of which are at home. CU's season opener against Regis on Nov. 12 was the first FSN Rocky Mountain televised followed by Colorado State (Dec. 8), North Dakota (Jan. 4), Kansas (Jan. 12), Kansas State (Jan. 26), Nebraska (Feb. 6) and Kansas State (Feb. 16). FSN Rocky Mountain will also televise CU's next home game against Oklahoma (Feb. 23) and and at Nebraska (Mar 2). The home game against Nebraska was televised nationally on FSN as part of the network's Big 12 package.
CU has appeared on 81 regional or national telecasts over the last nine seasons.