Colorado University Athletics

Buffaloes Host Villanova In WNIT Third Round Thursday

Buffaloes Host Villanova In WNIT Third Round Thursday
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THE GAME: The University of Colorado returns home to host Villanova University in the third round off the 2012 Postseason WNIT on Thursday, March 22, at 7 p.m. at the Coors Events Center.

BROADCAST: Thursday's WNIT game will be broadcast live on KKZN AM 760. Mike Rice will give the play by play with USA Basketball's Carol Callan with the color commentary. Live internet audio of all CU basketball games is available on BuffsRadio, a free subscription service through CUBuffs.com. Live internet video streaming of Thursday's game will be available for free on BuffsTV.

POSTSEASON FACTS: Colorado is in postseason play for the 20th time in team history with an overall record of 31-19. The Buffs played in four AIAW Tournaments from 1979-82 (5-4) and have made 12 NCAA Tournament Appearances (17-12).
- Colorado makes back-to-back postseason appearances for the first time since advancing to four straight NCAA Tournaments from 2001 to '04.
- This is Colorado's fourth trip to the postseason WNIT, and first back-to-back appearance, with an overall record of 9-3. The Buffaloes also participated in the 1999 event (1-1), reached the 2008 semifinals (3-1) and 2011 quarterfinals (3-1).
- Thursday's game will be the first WNIT "rematch" game as Colorado defeated Villanova 64-58 at Coors in third round game in 2008.
- Villanova will tie Stanford as Colorado's most played postseason opponent in the NCAA era with three matchups. Villanova defeated Colorado, 53-51, in the 2003 NCAA Sweet 16 - current CU head coach Linda Lappe's final game as a player.
- Villanova is one of two teams (BYU) that Colorado has played in both the WNIT and NCAA Tournaments.
- CU is 21-6 all-time at home in postseason (12-3 NCAA, 7-3 WNIT, 2-0 AIAW) and has won nine of its last 11.
- Colorado has won at least two games in three of four WNIT appearances and will be looking to advance to at least the quarterfinal round for the third straight time.
- Lappe is in her fourth WNIT as a coach, and second as a head coach. She was on the Drake staff that went to WNIT's in 2004 and '06.
- Lappe was a true freshman on CU's 1999 WNIT team
- CU assistant coach Jennie Baranczyk was an assistant on the Marquette team that defeated Colorado in the 2008 WNIT semifinals, eventually winning the tournament title.

COLORADO IN THE WNIT
1999 (1-1)
First Round: at Colorado 70, BYU 53
Second Round: Drake 82, at Colorado 66

2008 (3-1)
First Round: BYE
Second Round: at Colorado 82, Gonzaga 68
Third Round: at Colorado 64, Villanova 58
Quarterfinals: at Colorado 96, TCU 90 (OT)
Semifinals: Marquette 86, at Colorado 72

2011 (3-1)
First Round: at Colorado 71, UC Riverside 62
Second Round: at Colorado 81, California 65
Third Round: Colorado 70, at Wyoming 58
Quarterfinals: USC 87, Colorado 70

2012 (2-0)
First Round: at Colorado 54, Northern Colorado 42
Second Round: Colorado 64, at South Dakota 55

ABOUT THE BUFFALOES: Colorado is 20-13 overall after defeating South Dakota, 64-55, in the second round of the WNIT on March 19. The Buffaloes finished their first season in the Pac-12 Conference in 10th place at 6-12. Colorado was 1-1 at the 2012 Pacific-Life Pac-12 Tournament, picking up its first conference tournament win since 2007. The No. 10 seeded Buffaloes pulled off a 55-41 win over No. 7 Utah on March 7 before falling to tournament finalist, and No. 2 seed, California, 68-59, on March 8 in the quarterfinals. Colorado snapped a five-game losing streak by defeating Oregon State 67-57 in the regular season finale on March 3. After enduring a rough stretch that saw the Buffaloes lose eight of nine, CU has won four of its last five and has its first 20-win season since 2003-04 (22-8).

Colorado has shown balance with five players averaging between seven and 16 points per game. Overall the Buffaloes are averaging 61 points per game and shooting 40 percent from the field. The Buffaloes rank third in the Pac-12 in rebounding defense (34.5) and rebounding margin (+5.7) and fifth in scoring defense (58.1 ppg) and offensive rebounds (13.7 orpg). Colorado is on pace for the second-best field-goal percentage defense (.368), fourth-best scoring defense and rebounding margin and eighth-best rebounding average (40.2 rpg) in team history.

Junior guard Chucky Jeffery leads the Buffaloes at 15.5 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. She is prominent on the Pac-12 leader board, ranking fifth in steals (2.3 spg), sixth in assists, seventh in scoring, eighth in overall rebounding and defensive rebounds (5.8 drpg), 11th in assist-to-turnover ratio (0.8) and 13th free-throw percentage (.683) 13th in field-goal percentage (.448).

Jeffery has scored in double-figures in 28 of Colorado's 33 games and has reached the 20-point mark on eight occasions. She has a team-best eight double-doubles on the season, ninth in the Pac-12, including a 23-point, 10-rebound performance in the second round WNIT win at South Dakota. She has led or shared the team lead in scoring in 20 contests this season. Jeffery was the MVP of CU's Omni Hotels Classic and was named Pac-12 Women's Basketball Player of the Week on Dec. 4.

Senior forward Julie Seabrook leads Colorado in field goal accuracy at 48.4 percent while also averaging 7.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. She had a memorable senior night, recording her fourth career double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds against Oregon State. Seabrook, who ranked seventh in the Pac-12 in field-goal percentage during conference games (.474) has shot 50 percent or better in 20 of 33 games, 10 of 18 in league play. She made 81 percent from the line (25-of-31) during conference play.

Sophomore guard Brittany Wilson is second on the team in assists (60), steals (43) and 3-point field goals (40) and third in scoring at 9.1 points per contest. She was Colorado's leading scorer at the Pac-12 Tournament (19.5 ppg) and is averaging 16 points on 46 percent shooting over the last four games. Brittany's twin sister Ashley Wilson is hitting 56 percent (5-of-9) during that same span averaging 4.5 points and 3.0 rebounds since the end of the regular season.

Freshman guard Lexy Kresl averages 9.1 points per game (she has one more point than Brittany Wilson) and leads the Buffaloes in both 3-point field goals (59) and free-throw accuracy at 90 percent. Kresl scored nine points -- all in the second half -- at South Dakota including four clutch free throws in the final minute to put the game on ice. On the Pac-12 charts she ranks fifth in 3-pointers made (1.8 3mpg), 13th in 3-point percentage (.317) and 27th in scoring.

Junior forward Meagan Malcolm-Peck is averaging 4.1 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. She is second on the team in offensive rebounds (62), third in assists (41) and fourth in 3-point field goals (18). Sophomore Rachel Hargis, who averages 3.8 points and 3.2 rebounds per contest, is second on the team in blocked shots with 25 and her 0.8 per game average during conference only contests ranks 14th in the Pac-12.

Freshman guard Jasmine Sborov has seen extended minutes the second half of the season and has started the last seven games. She is averaging 4.0 points and 4.0 rebounds since the end of the regular season. She pitched in eight points - on 4-of-6 shooting - and five rebounds in the win over South Dakota.

ALL PAC-12: Junior guard Chucky Jeffery made it 2-for-2 in All-Pac-12 Conference honors as she was named to both the coach's and media teams. In addition, Jeffery was named to the Pac-12 All-Defensive team voted on by league coaches, while CU's freshman duo of Lexy Kresl and Jen Reese received honorable mention to the All-Freshman squad.

Jeffery becomes Colorado's first All-Pac-12 women's basketball player capping off the Buffaloes first year in their new conference. She is the 13th different CU women's basketball player to be recognized on a league's all-conference first team (Intermountain, Big Eight and Big 12) and it's the program's 19th such mention overall. CU had five first-team All-Big 12 Conference awards in 15 seasons.

Jeffery's defensive team honor is the first for the program in any conference. Her steals per game average rose to 2.7 during conference only games, ranking third in the Pac-12. She had eight games with four or more steals and topped six steals on three occasions. Jeffery's 77 steals this season rank seventh on CU's single-season list.

Kresl and Reese have played pivotal roles in Colorado's success this season. Kresl, who was named to the media's Pac-12 All-Freshman team, is second in 3-point field goals (59) and fifth in scoring among freshmen. Reese averaged 7.8 points and 6.0 rebounds in 25 games before a season-ending eye injury. She leads all freshmen in rebounding average had the second-best rookie field-goal percentage in the Pac-12 (.449), a mark that also ranks 12th overall on the league charts.

ABOUT THE WILDCATS: Villanova is 19-14 overall and finished in a tie for 10th place in the Big East Conference at 6-10. Like Colorado, the Wildcats have won four of their last five games. VU defeated American University, 58-39, on March 15 and Illinois State, 58-55, on March 18 to reach the third round. The Wildcats average 58 points per game while shooting 39 percent from the field. Villanova is one of the top 3-point shooting teams in the nation, ranking seventh with 8.2 made per game. Taking care of the ball has also been a staple of the Wildcats as their 12.1 turnover per game average is the second lowest in NCAA Division I.

SERIES RECORDS: This will be the fifth meeting between Colorado and Villanova with the Wildcats holding a 3-1 edge. Colorado claimed its only win in the series in the last meeting, a 64-58 decision in the third round of the 2008 WNIT. Villanova beat the Buffaloes twice during the 2002-03 season, the first in the championship game of the 2002 Coors (now Omni Hotels) Classic and the second in the 2003 NCAA Sweet 16.

Colorado head coach Linda Lappe has never faced Villanova as a head coach, but played in both 2002-03 season meetings. Villanova head coach Harry Perretta is 3-1 against Colorado.

"ROAD" TO BOULDER: Colorado and Villanova's road wins to get to the third round of the WNIT were the only two of its kind on this side of the bracket as the home team was 22-2 through the first two rounds. A little more road love can be seen on the other side of the bracket as three different teams won second round games on the road and the home team was 15-9 through two rounds. Three teams - Syracuse, VCU and Appalachian State - have won two road games to reach third round competition. Back on Colorado's side of the bracket, Pac-12 rival Washington opened third round action Tuesday night with a 55-49 road win at fellow conference foe Oregon State.

LEXY FROM '3': Guard Lexy Kresl increased her freshman 3-point season record to 59 with one at South Dakota. She initially set the record in the WNIT win over Northern Colorado passing Brittany Spears (2007-08) and Shelley Sheetz (1991-92) who each had 57 in their rookie seasons. Kresl is already 16th in career 3-point field goals and her total is also 12th on CU's single-season list.

In the regular season finale against Oregon State she scored a career high 20 points on a career best 6-of-7 from beyond the arc. Kresl's 85.7% from beyond the arc against the Beavers is good for the best single-game 3-point field goal percentage in the Pac-12 this season.

CHUCKY REACHES 1,000: Junior guard Chucky Jeffery became the 24th player in team history to reach 1,000 career points during the loss at Oregon. She is the 10th player to achieve 1,000 before her senior year. Surpassing 1,000 in her 81st career game, she tied Tera Bjorklund (2000-04) for the ninth fastest to reach 1,000. Currently with 1,187 points, Jeffery is 18th on CU's all-time scoring list.

THANKS BUFF FANS, KEEP COMING OUT!: Colorado had a season-high 5,885 fans witness the nail biting overtime loss to UCLA on Jan. 29. The attendance number was the third highest for a Pac-12 league game this season, trailing only the California-Stanford rivalry games which drew 6,075 at Stanford and a conference season-best 7,864 in Berkeley on March 4. Overall the UCLA-Colorado attendance figure was the fourth best at a Pac-12 venue this season. Stanford had 7,329 for a nonconference game against national power Tennessee on Dec. 20.

The Buffaloes are averaging 2,735 for 17 home dates this season and 3,346 in nine Pac-12 home games, both figures trailing only Stanford (4,250 overall, 4,345 league). CU is on pace for its best home attendance average since the 2003-04 team drew 3,092 over 16 home games.

ROAD WARRIORS: Colorado has won eight of its last 14 road games and also nine of its last 16 away from home. The Buffaloes are 6-6 on the road this year and 9-7 overall away from Boulder. CU's six road wins are its most since 2003-04 (7) and its nine wins away from home are the most since 2002-03 (11). Prior to the Washington game, the Buffaloes had won six-straight both in true road games and games away from Boulder, each being the program's best such streaks since the 2003-04 squad won six in a row in true road contests.

Additionally, Colorado has won five of its last 11 conference road games after only winning four of the previous 30 dating back to the 2007-08 Big 12 season. CU had three conference road wins this season, its most since the 2003-04 NCAA Tournament squad won five league games away from Boulder.

Colorado began the Pac-12 season with three straight on the road finishing 2-1. It was CU's first three-game conference road stand since 1997, the inaugural season of the Big 12. In that string, the Buffaloes lost at Kansas State on Feb. 19, but bounced back to win games at Missouri on Feb. 23 and No. 12 ranked Texas on Feb. 26, sparking an eight-game win streak that carried Colorado through the first Big 12 Tournament Championship and an appearance in the 1997 NCAA Sweet 16.

Colorado returned home for California and Stanford after nearly a month away from home, spanning five games, which hadn't happened since the end of the 2001 season with a final regular season road game and then four neutral site Big 12 and NCAA Tournament games. The five away from home hadn't been done entirely in the regular season since the 1993-94 team played seven in a row away from Boulder in the late preseason (5) and early Big Eight Conference schedule (2).

REBOUNDING WOWS: Colorado has been even or outrebounded its opponent in 24 of 33 games, including 11 in a row prior to the Washington game. CU's margin of plus-5.7 on the season, ranks third in the Pac-12.

The Buffaloes outrebounded South Dakota 47-25 in their second round WNIT win. Led by Chucky Jeffery's 10, all five starters had at least five rebounds in the contest. For good measure, sophomore Rachel Hargis came off the bench and grabbed seven boards. In the last four games, Colorado has held a plus-9.5 rebounding margin over its opponents and all eight players in the primary rotation are averaging at least three rebounds.

CU had a big night on the glass against San Francisco, ending with a margin of plus-33 (53-20). That plus-33 margin overall is tied for the ninth best margin in team history and tied for the fourth best since the NCAA/Big Eight Conference era began with the 1982-83 season. It's also the widest margin since the Buffaloes put up a similar plus-33 margin against Bowling Green (59-26) on Nov. 23, 2001. Those two games are the best since CU outrebounded Northern Arizona by 34 (56-22) on Dec. 18, 1993.

Colorado has grabbed 50 or more rebounds five times this season, including a high of 54 against Texas-Pan American. It's the most 50-plus rebound games for the Buffaloes since they had nine such outputs during the 1993-94 season.

On the other end of the spectrum, CU's 20 rebounds allowed to San Francisco tied for the second-lowest in team history. The Buffaloes held a team at 20 on three other occasions, most recently against Loyola Chicago in a 65-34 win on Nov. 27, 2010. The record low is 19, set against Northern Arizona on Feb. 7, 1981.

DEFENDING THE HOOP: In 13 games against non-Pac-12 opponents this season, Colorado has allowed just 51.2 points on 33.1 percent shooting overall (34.2 percent on two-point attempts and 30.2 from three-point range). The Buffaloes have held six nonconference opponents under 50 points. CU has held its opponent under 50 points 13 times in CU head coach Linda Lappe's 66-game tenure.

CHUCKY DOUBLES: Chucky Jeffery has eight double-doubles on the season, ninth in the Pac-12, including a string of three-straight (Wisconsin-San Francisco-Idaho). It was the first time a CU player had double-doubles in three-straight games since Jackie McFarland had two separate strings of three during the 2006-07 season. She joins Bridget Turner as the only other guard in team history with three-straight double-doubles. Turner pulled the trifecta during the 1988-89 season, with one of her doubles the points-assists variety.

Overall she is the seventh player to achieve three straight double-doubles. CU Athletic Hall of Famer Lisa Van Goor holds the consecutive mark of six during the 1980-81 season.

MALCOLM-PECK CLIMBING IN 3-POINTERS, BLOCKS: Junior Meagan Malcolm-Peck drilled her 78th career 3-pointer in the Oregon game, ranking 12th on CU's all-time list. She is also 12th in blocked shots with 66.

JEFFERY MOVING UP CAREER LADDERS: Junior guard Chucky Jeffery ranks among Colorado's all-time leaders in several categories. She is ninth in steals (211) and assists (346), 13th in rebounds (638), 16th in blocks (57), 17th in field-goals made (443), 18th in scoring (1,187) and 20th in 3-point field goals made (50).

HOME AT COORS: Colorado is traditionally tough at home with a 366-126 all-time record at the Coors Events Center (.744). The Buffaloes have won 10 or more games in a season at the CEC in 23 of the previous 34 years. The Buffaloes have enjoyed five undefeated seasons (1980-83, 1992-94) at the CEC.