Junior Sociology major Brittany Spears (22) pushes down the court against Iowa State's Kelsey Bolte during the CU versus Iowa State basketball game in Coor's Events Center on Jan. 16, 2009. (CU Independent file/Stephanie Davis)
Brittney Griner and the Baylor Bears proved too much for the Colorado women’s basketball team to handle on the road at the Ferrell Center in Waco, Texas.
The 76-42 loss on Saturday night was the team’s fourth straight. The Buffaloes fell 12-9 overall, 2-6 in Big 12 play.
All of the Buffs’ bouts against ranked opponents have handed them losses, and the face-off against No. 15 Baylor (17-5, 4-4) was no different.
While senior center Courtney Dunn and junior forward Brittany Spears each put up nine points, it wasn’t enough to come close to Baylor’s star freshman Brittney Griner’s stats. The 6-foot-8 center recorded her second career triple-double with 24 points, ten rebounds and 11 blocks.
Head coach Kathy McConnell-Miller said she knew just how much of an impact Griner made on the game.
“She really changed the complexion of everything tonight, particularly what we were trying to do,” said McConnell-Miller. “I just feel like our players were tentative and went away from her quite a bit as opposed to taking it and sticking with what we do. They continued to shy away whether it was fear of getting their shot blocked or not able to have success.”
Colorado managed to get off to a good start, leading 10-9 with 14:57 remaining in the first half, but the lead didn’t last long.
An 18-5 Baylor run made it impossible for the Buffs to gain the upper hand before the first half buzzer sounded. The lady Bears led 33-15 at the half.
The second half didn’t get much better for CU. The team’s only true inch-for-inch match against Griner—6-foot-7 freshman center Melissa MacFarlane—fouled out with 11:01 left in play.
Despite being fouled out after her 12-minute appearance, McConnell-Miller said she was still proud of the young player’s showing.
“I thought she played a great game tonight,” McConnell-Miller said. “She gave us good minutes, and got a little more confidence in her.”
The Bears outscored the Buffs by 16 points in the second half, and were out-boarded 45-30 overall due largely in part to the double team combination of Griner and Morghan Medlock.
The Buffaloes will see if they can change their luck when they return home to face No. 23 Texas at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Marlee Horn at Marlee.Horn@colorado.edu.
