Women’s basketball team on a losing streak
The Buffaloes dropped their fourth straight Big 12 Conference game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers 80-71 in Boulder on Wednesday.
“I am displeased with the outcome, no doubt about it,” McConnell-Miller said. “This is one we let slip away.”
With just over five minutes left in the first half, the Buffs controlled the game with a commanding 29-18 lead over the Huskers. When Husker guard Yvonne Turner hit a three-pointer to take the lead, the Huskers went on an 18-6 run to close the half.
The run wiped the Buffaloes lead off the scoreboard going into the half, 36-35 in favor of the Huskers. The run was not the only way the Huskers exploited the struggling Buffs. They did not allow CU’s leading scorer Jackie McFarland a single shot attempt in the first half.
It was the first time in the senior forward’s career in which she did not have a goal attempt in the first half of a game.
“(Nebraska) had a good game plan . I am used to taking on a post and a guard, but they had two post (players) on me,” said McFarland, referring to forwards Kelsey Griffin and Danielle Page who were defending her. “I would love to go one on one, but that seems like that won’t ever happen.”
Coming out in the second half, the Buffaloes, much like in the first, controlled the majority of the half.
With just under four minutes to go, Colorado led the Huskers 64-61. However, costly turnovers down the stretch led to a 19-7 run by Nebraska to close the game, giving the Huskers an 80-71 victory.
“The turnovers at the end of the game are disappointing,” McConnell-Miller said. “It was huge because we were in positions to score.”
The Buffaloes turned the ball over 19 times compared to the Huskers’ 11. Sophomore guard Whitney Houston came off the bench and committed five turnovers, four of which came in the last six minutes of the game.
McConnell-Miller said that Houston appeared to run out of gas late in the game. Houston may have run out of gas because of the lack of minutes she had been playing in the past couple of games, and she had breathing problems because of her asthma earlier that day.
When the clock ran out on the Buffs Wednesday night, McFarland, who averages 18.9 points per game, ended up with a single point, a season-low.
“Jackie was doubled all night by the two strongest post players in the conference,” McConnell-Miller said. “She didn’t just have to handle one of them; she had to handle two of them out on the floor.”
With the loss, the Buffs drop to 2-7 in the conference, with seven more conference games before the Big 12 Championship Tournament.
“We played well for 37 minutes tonight,” McConnell-Miller said. “This is one that these girls wanted, and one that they’re really feeling right now.”
Next up:The Buffs travel to Norman, Okla., to face the No. 10 Sooners on Feb. 9.
Game Notes
Key Stat 19 turnovers for the Buffs, 11 for the Huskers.
Spotlight Player sophomore guard Bianca Smith earned her second-straight start and had 19 points in 31 minutes; Smith went 5-11 from three-point land.
Contact Campus Press Staff Writer Brent New at brent.new@thecampuspress.com.