Colorado University Athletics
Buffaloes Host Oregon State Friday In Pink Game
THE GAME: No. 21 (AP)/25 (USA Today Sports/Coaches) ranked University of Colorado returns home for the first time in three weeks and hosts Oregon State University on Friday, Feb. 8, at 7 p.m. at the Coors Events Center.
BROADCAST: Friday's game will be televised on the Pac-12 Network. Anne Marie Anderson will handle play-by-play duties with Rosalyn Gold-Onwude providing the color commentary. Friday's game will be broadcast live on KKZN AM 760. Mike Rice will have the play-by-play with Carol Callan of USA Basketball providing the color commentary.
OPENING TIP: A win would allow Colorado to match its Pac-12 win total from 2012 as the Buffaloes finished in 10th place at 6-12 in their inaugural season in the league.
PINK GAME: On Friday Colorado will hold its annual Play 4 Kay pink game to raise awareness in the fight against breast cancer. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to the game, and those that do can receive $3 general admission tickets. Additionally, pink t-shirts will be given out to the first 1,500 fans through the door.
Fans will also have the opportunity to donate to the Boulder Community Hospital Auxiliary's Breast Cancer Fund. The BCH Auxiliary works specifically with patients in the Boulder Valley area, providing aid to breast cancer patients. Breast cancer survivors will also be recognized during the game. For more information visit CUBuffs.com/pink.
ABOUT THE BUFFALOES: Colorado is 16-5 overall and tied for fifth in the Pac-12 with USC at 5-5. The Buffaloes are three games behind No. 17 (AP)/18 (USAT) UCLA and Washington who are tied for third place at 8-2. CU does have a favorable schedule to creep back into the race for a coveted top four seed at the 2013 Pac-12 Tournament as the Buffaloes only have one remaining game - at home vs. Washington on Feb. 22 - against a team above them in the standings.
CU snapped a season-high three game skid with a solid 65-49 win at USC on Feb. 3, salvaging a Southern California split. All five of Colorado's losses have come to ranked teams, four against Stanford and California, ranked No. 7 or better at the time. The combined record of the three teams the Buffaloes have lost to this year is 56-8 with four of those losses coming against each other. UCLA was swept by Cal and Stanford and the Bay Area schools split earlier this season.
Colorado averages 66 points per game on 42 percent shooting from the field. The Buffaloes scored in bunches during the nonconference schedule hitting 80 points three times. Defensively, CU allows 53.8 points and has held opponents to 35 percent shooting for the year.
Colorado ranks second in the Pac-12 and 10th in the nation in rebounding margin at +9.4. The Buffaloes rank among the top five in the Pac-12 in 16 of 21 statistical categories including second in scoring defense (53.8 ppg) and rebounding defense (32.9 rpg).
All-Pac-12 guard Chucky Jeffery leads the team in scoring (13.3 ppg), assists (4.2 apg), rebounds (8.2 rpg) and steals (2.5 spg). She has all five of the team's double-doubles this year, including a 15-point, 10-rebound effort in the road win at USC. On the Pac-12 leaderboard Jeffery ranks fourth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.4), fifth in assists, steals and defensive rebounds (6.1) and overall rebounding, 12th in free-throw percentage (.723) and 14th in scoring.
Redshirt freshman forward Arielle Roberson is second on the team and ranks 18th in the Pac-12 in scoring at 12.4 points per game. A three-time Pac-12 Freshman of the Week, Roberson tops the Buffaloes in free-throws made and attempted (67-of-103) and also ranks second on the team in rebounding (5.5 rpg) and fourth in steals (1.0 spg). She had her best offensive game during Pac-12 play at USC, finishing with a game-high 16 points. Roberson ranks 10th in offensive rebounds (2.6 orpg) on the Pac-12 leaderboard.
Junior guard Brittany Wilson ranks second on the team in steals (1.2 spg) and assists (2.3 apg) while coming in at third in scoring at 8.5 points per contest. She led Colorado in scoring for the fifth time this season with 12 points at UCLA and is averaging 11 points over her last four games. Wilson is second on the team in 3-pointers made (22) and has hit 77 percent from the free-throw line. She is tied for 15th in 3-pointers made (1.0 3mpg) on the league leaderboard.
Sophomore forward Jen Reese has made a successful return from an eye injury that kept her out of the final nine games of 2011-12. She is fourth on the team in scoring (7.9 ppg) and third in rebounding (4.6 rpg) while hitting 43 percent from the field. She is one of the team's better free-throw shooters at 79 percent.
Junior center Rachel Hargis is the only Buffalo to start all 21 games. A career 33 percent shooter entering the season, Hargis has made the most of her opportunity hitting 48 percent this season. She leads CU in blocked shots with 24, ranking 13th in the Pac-12 at 1.1 per outing.
Sophomore Lexy Kresl leads Colorado in 3-pointers with 24 and is averaging 6.1 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. She scored in double figures for the third time this year with 11 points at USC while also grabbing six rebounds.
Colorado's balance has served them well through the first half of the season. Aside from Roberson and Jeffery averaging in double figures, six others average between three and nine points per game. In the win over Arizona, nine different Buffaloes scored between six and 12 points. At California, nine different Buffs also scored, with seven netting between five and 11 points. With freshman Jamee Swan leading the team at Stanford with 14 points, she became the sixth different player to lead CU in scoring in a game this year.
ABOUT THE BEAVERS: Oregon State is 9-13 overall and tied with Arizona and Arizona State for eighth in the Pac-12 at 3-8. The Beavers have lost four straight, including home losses to No. 4 Stanford and No. 6 California last weekend. The Beavers rank last in the Pac-12 in scoring at 59.7 points per game, but boast a solid defense. OSU allows opponents only 34 percent from the field, second in the Pac-12 and the Beavers lead the league in blocked shots at just over six per game.
Freshman guard Jamie Weisner leads Oregon State at 12.2 points per game. She's the Beavers' top 3-point shooter with 32 on the season and ranks fifth in the Pac-12 in 3-point accuracy at 35.2 percent. Sophomore guard Ali Gibson averages 9.4 points a game and leads the Beavers with 44 steals. Freshman forward Deven Hunter tops Oregon State in rebounding at 6.4 while averaging just under five points a contest. Senior center Patricia Bright averages 7.9 points and ranks second in the Pac-12 at 1.9 blocks per game.
Scott Rueck is in his third year as head coach at Oregon State with a record of 38-47. He is in his 17th year overall as a collegiate head coach with a career mark of 326-135.
THE SERIES: This will be the fifth meeting between Colorado and Oregon State, with the Buffaloes holding a 3-1 series edge. The two teams split their 2012 meetings, the first as Pac-12 opponents, each holding serve at home. Oregon State won the first meeting, 65-45 in Corvallis on Feb. 2, while Colorado won the rematch, 67-57 on Mar. 3.
Colorado head coach Linda Lappe is 1-1 against Oregon State. Scott Rueck is 1-1 against Colorado.
CONNECTIONS: Colorado sports one Oregon native on its roster, sophomore forward Jen Reese hails from Clackamas, and was a two-time Oregon Gatorade Player of the Year.
MORE ON THE DEFENSE: Colorado leads the Pac-12 in scoring defense through 10 conference games at 52.8 points per outing, and is second overall at 53.8, just a fraction behind Stanford (53.0). Colorado has allowed just five teams in the 60's all season and earlier this season set a school-record by holding nine straight opponents under the 60-point mark.
Colorado has yet to allow 70 points in a game this year. This is the longest the Buffaloes have gone into any one season without allowing
70. The previous best was the 2011-12 team, that didn't allow 70 until game No. 13, a 75-67 loss at Washington.
CU held three straight conference opponents (Utah, Arizona State & Arizona) to 43 points or less, the first time the Buffaloes have held three straight opponents at 43 or under in conference play since 1980-81. It is also the eighth time in school history the Buffs have held their opponents under 50 in three consecutive outings.
Colorado had held its opponents to 24.6 percent shooting (49-of-199) over a 140 minute span (3 1/2 games) from the Utah game in Salt Lake City on Jan. 13 through the first half the game at California.
Colorado allowed just 36 points to Arizona, the fewest in a conference game since a 70-35 win at Kansas on Jan. 16, 2002. Arizona State was held to 17 points on 4-of-30 from the field in the second half of the Jan. 18 game. The four field goals were one shy of a school record (3 vs. Texas State 12/1/10 and Kansas State 3/7/92). The 13.3 percent allowed was just a fraction off the all-time opponent low for a half, 13.0 (3-of-23) vs. Kansas State on 3/7/92). That weekend Arizona State and Arizona combined for 79 points (39.2 ppg) and 24 percent from the field (26-of-107). The Buffaloes scored 79 points in their win over Arizona alone.
NATIONALLY RANKED: Following a Southern California split, the University of Colorado slid down two spots to No. 25 in the USA Today Sports Women's Basketball Coaches poll released on Tuesday.
On Monday, Colorado moved up one spot to No. 21 in the Associated Press Women's Basketball Top 25 poll.
Colorado, 16-5 overall and 5-5 in the Pac-12 Conference, received 64 points in the coaches' poll, the same amount as last week, but point shifts with other teams put the Buffaloes at No. 25. The Buffaloes have been in the coaches' poll for four-straight weeks and five overall this season. Colorado reached a season-high of No. 23 in the coaches' poll twice, in consecutive weeks, Jan. 22 and Jan. 29. This week's ranking marks the 156th time Colorado has appeared in the coaches' poll dating back to the 1988-89 campaign.
Colorado received 162 points in the AP poll, down from 205 last week. The Buffaloes have resided in the AP poll for the last eight weeks, reaching as high as No. 20 twice -- Dec. 31 and Jan. 21. CU's eight-week run in the AP poll is its longest since appearing in all 19 polls of the 2003-04 season. The Buffaloes have a long history of rankings in the AP poll, dating back to the 1980-81 season. This week's ranking marks the 166th time Colorado has appeared in the AP poll, trailing only Stanford, USC and UCLA among Pac-12 schools.
All five of Colorado's losses have been to ranked teams, including two each to Stanford and California ranked No. 7 or better at the time. After this weekend's games, Stanford remained at No. 4 AP and No. 5 coaches, and California stayed at No. 6 in both polls. UCLA jumped up one spot in each poll, No. 17 AP and No. 18 coaches. The Buffaloes do have one top 10 win on their resume, a 70-66 win over then-No. 8 Louisville on Dec. 14. The Cardinals are currently ranked No. 11 in both polls.
LAPPE AND COLORADO IN THE POLLS: Head coach Linda Lappe joined some elite company when the Buffaloes received their first AP ranking in five years. She is only one of eight NCAA Division I women's head coaches to have played for an AP ranked team, and then return to lead that same program into the AP poll. Overall she is the 31st person to play for and coach an AP ranked program.
The Buffaloes were ranked for 29 weeks during Lappe's playing career (1998-03) including 27 straight from Jan. 22, 2001 through the end of her junior year (March 11, 2002). CU's highest AP ranking during that span was No. 10, on March 4, 2002.
AP Played for and Coached Same Ranked Program
Coach, School Played Coached
Amanda Butler, Florida (1990-94) (2007-current)
Pokey Chatman, LSU (1987-91) (2003-07)
Linda Lappe, Colorado (1998-2003) (2010-current)
Wendy Larry, Old Dominion (1973-77) (1987-2011)
Cheryl Miller, USC (1982-86) (1993-95)
Carol Ross, Mississippi* (1978-81) (2003-07)
Bev Smith, Oregon (1978-82) (2001-09)
Holly Warlick, Tennessee (1976-80) (2012-current)
*Also coached Florida to an AP ranking
SUCCESS ON THE ROAD: Colorado is 5-3 away from Boulder this season and is 14-10 in its last 24 true road contests since the tail end of the 2010-11 campaign. Prior to the start of this run, The Buffaloes had just five wins in their previous 37 road games dating back to the 2008 Big 12 Conference schedule.
Colorado held Utah to 43 points in Salt Lake City on Jan. 13, its fewest allowed in a true road game since a 45-42 win at Pacific on Dec. 18, 2004
Colorado scored an overall season-high 83 points at Denver, the most in a true road contest since scoring 83 in a 3-point loss at Colorado State on Nov. 30, 2005. CU's 10-point halftime lead was its largest on the road since leading Colorado State 38-22 on Nov. 20, 2011
Colorado's win at Illinois was its first road win against a major conference opponent in a nonconference regular season game since defeating No. 20/17 ranked Vanderbilt, 62-51, on Dec. 9, 2007. The Buffaloes trailed by six at halftime against the Illini, allowing Colorado to claim its largest halftime deficit overcome to win on the road since defeating Missouri 80-79 in overtime on Feb. 23, 2010 after trailing by seven at the break (43-36).
Colorado's 23-point win at UMKC, was its biggest on the road since an 82-47 win at Colorado State on Dec. 1, 2007.
AGAINST RANKED TEAMS: Colorado picked up its 14th all-time win over a top-10 ranked opponent with its 70-66 win over No. 8 Louisville on Dec. 14. The win marked the Buffaloes' first over a top-10 opponent since defeating No. 5 Stanford in the 2002 NCAA Sweet 16. It was the first top-10 win as an unranked team since knocking off No. 7 Texas Tech 63-49 on Jan. 11, 1997.
The Buffaloes are 1-5 against ranked teams this season -- four of five in the top 10 -- and 3-10 under Linda Lappe. CU is 62-147 all-time against ranked opponents. The Buffaloes played just two games against ranked teams in 2011-12, both against Stanford.
Prior to the UCLA game, Colorado's last eight ranked opponents dating back to 2010-11 had all resided in the top 10, by far the longest streak for in school history. The five regular season games where the opponent is ranked in the top 10 in both polls, is a first for the Buffaloes in one season. CU played five regular season top 10 games in 2001-02, but two of those games included a team being ranked 10 or better in only one poll. Including postseason, the 2001-02 team played eight top 10 teams, five of which were top 10 in both polls.
CU's series with Cal and Stanford this season have marked just the first and second times the Buffaloes have faced top-10 opponents in consecutive games during the regular season. Colorado has faced that twice in postseason play; the 1993 and 2002 NCAA Sweet 16 and Elite Eight.
The Buffaloes fell to No. 18 (AP)/19 (USAT) UCLA 62-46 on Friday night at Pauley Pavilion. Coming off competitive losses to No. 7 California on Jan. 25 (59-56) and No. 6 Stanford on Jan. 27 (69-56), this string marked the first time in team history that CU faced three consecutive games against ranked opponents on the road.
BENCH PRODUCTION: Colorado is getting good production from its bench to the tune of 21.3 points (32 percent) and 19.3 rebounds (46 percent) per game. Sophomore forward Jen Reese has headed the bench effort averaging 7.9 points and 4.6 rebounds, ranking fourth and third on the team respectively.
Colorado scored a season-high 42 bench points in the win over UMKC. The bulk of those came from freshman forward Arielle Roberson who scored 23 points in 19 minutes on 9-of-12 from the field in her lone game off the bench this season. Her 23 bench points are tied for the second most in the past 10 years and her nine field goals are the most. Only Bianca Smith, with 25 points off the bench against San Jose State on Dec. 22, 1999, had a bigger bench game in the last 10 years.
MORE ON THE BOARDS: Colorado ranked 10th in NCAA Division I in rebounding margin at through games of Feb. 3. The Buffaloes have either tied or led the rebounding battle in 17 of 21 games this season and have enjoyed double-digit margins in 11 games.
The Buffaloes grabbed a season-high 59 rebounds in the win over Colorado State, their most since also recording 59 against Bowling Green on Nov. 23, 2001. CU had 24 offensive rebounds, nearly matching Colorado State's overall total (26). Colorado's 24 offensive rebounds were its most since it had 24 at Iowa State on Feb. 18, 1996.
Colorado's +33 advantage against the Rams tied for the ninth largest single-game margin in team history, most recently achieved against San Francisco on Nov. 30, 2011 (53-20).
Colorado had 50 rebounds against Denver, hitting the 50 mark for the second straight game for the first time since grabbing 50 against UC Irvine and 52 against Illinois-Chicago in the first two games of the 2009-10 season.
CU's 109 rebounds over a two-game span are its most since hitting the same number during the 2001 Coors Classic (59 vs. Bowling Green, 50 vs. Houston). The Buffaloes 46 offensive rebounds during that stretch are their most since grabbing 48 in back-to-back games in December 1994 (25 vs. Montana State, 23 vs. Notre Dame).
BIG WIN: The 43-point win over Arizona was CU's largest in a Pac-12 game, smashing the old mark of 14 set just two days earlier against Arizona State (57-43). It was the eighth largest margin of victory in a conference game in CU history (all conferences) and the largest since an 83-38 win over Iowa State on Feb. 19, 1995.
Colorado's 28-point lead at halftime (43-15) is its largest lead at the break against a Pac-12 opponent and the most in a conference game since Colorado led Kansas 42-14 at halftime on Feb. 5, 2003.
BUFFS EXPERIENCED FROM DEEP: While Colorado looks to continue an inside-outside balance on its 2012-13 squad, there is no questioning its experience from shooting from the perimeter. The Buffaloes have four players with at least 50 career 3-point field goals, and all four rank among CU's career Top 20. Junior Brittany Wilson tops the Buffaloes' effort with 92, 11th on CU's all-time list. Senior Meagan Malcolm-Peck is and sophomore Lexy Kresl are tied for 12th at 87. Senior Chucky Jeffery rounds out the current Buffs at 17th with 62.
JEFFERY MOVING UP CAREER LADDERS: Senior guard Chucky Jeffery became the sixth player to reach 800 rebounds in the Arizona win and in the process became the first Buffalo to reach 1,400 points, 800 rebounds and 400 assists.
She is fourth in career steals with 266, needing 18 to catch Bridget Turner (1985-89) for third. Jeffery is currently fifth in career assists with 441, needing two to catch Tracy Tripp (1985-89) for the fourth spot.
Jeffery is 11th in career scoring and is just 17 points shy of reaching 1,500. She also ranks sixth in rebounds (831), eighth in minutes (3,592), 11th in field-goals made (560), 12th in starts (97), 13th in free-throws made (301), 16th in blocks (61) and 17th in 3-point field goals (62).
In other miscellaneous categories Jeffery is also fifth in double-doubles (25), is sixth in double-figure rebounding games (27) and eighth in double-figure scoring games (82).
HOME AT THE CECC: Colorado is traditionally tough at home with a 378-128 all-time record at the Coors Events Center (.747). The Buffaloes have won 10 or more games in a season at the CEC in 24 of 35 years. The Buffaloes have enjoyed five undefeated seasons (1980-83, 1992-94) at the CEC.
BUFFS ON TV: Colorado's regular season schedule will feature at least 11 regionally or nationally televised games in 2012-13. Colorado will play nine regular season games on the Pac-12 Networks, and a guaranteed one, and potentially more, during the Pac-12 Tournament, March 7-10, in Seattle.
A program-best six regular season games will be televised nationally while three more will be on one of the regional networks. CU's first Pac-12 Tournament game will also be televised nationally, as would any ensuing round through the championship game, which will air Sunday, March 10, on ESPN2.
CU made its first television appearance on Dec. 11 at Denver on ROOT Sports Rocky Mountain. The Buffaloes made their Pac-12 Network on Jan. 4 against defending league champion Stanford; their first of four straight televised games on the network. Colorado will have five straight road games televised beginning with Utah on Jan. 13, through a Super Bowl Sunday matchup at USC on Feb. 3. CU's final regular season televised game will be Feb. 8 at home against Oregon State.
Entering the 2012-13 season, CU has appeared on 99 regional or national telecasts over the previous 11 seasons.