Buffaloes Face Iowa State in Big 12 Tournament First Round Tuesday
QUICKLY...The University of Colorado (9-18) will participate in the 2005 Big 12 Tournament March 8-10 & 12 at the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. The Buffaloes will be the tournament's 12th seed and begin play on Tuesday, March 8, against No. 5 seed Iowa State University (22-5), at 1:30 p.m. MST. The winner of that contest will play the fourth seed, Texas Tech University, on Wednesday, March 9, at 1:30 p.m. MST, in a quarterfinal game.
BUFFS ON THE AIR...Colorado women's basketball regular and post season games are broadcast live on KKZN AM 760, Boulder's Progressive Talk station. Tim Smile will handle play by play duties and is joined by USA Basketball's Carol Callan with the color commentary.
31ST SEASON...Colorado is in its 31st season of varsity women's basketball sporting an all-time record of 586-331 (.639). The Buffaloes have made 12 NCAA Tournament appearances, all since 1988, including six Sweet 16 appearances and three trips to the Elite Eight (1993, 1995 & 2002).
BUFFS ENTER BIG 12 TOURNAMENT ON UP NOTE...Colorado snapped an 11-game losing streak and gave head coach Ceal Barry a memorable last game at the Coors Events Center with a 78-76 win over Nebraska on March 2. Colorado's 11-game skid was the longest losing streak in team history, breaking the previous mark of nine set during the Buffs' first season of varsity women's basketball in 1975. The win also allowed Colorado to avoid setting a new mark for lowest league win total in one season. Ending the Big 12 slate at 2-14, the Buffaloes tied their lowest conference win total for one season which had happened on two previous occasions - 1975 (Intermountain Conference) and 1984-85 (Big Eight).
Colorado's balanced scoring attack is led by freshman Jackie McFarland, averaging 10.2 points per game. McFarland also leads the Buffaloes in rebounding (6.4 rpg), free-throws made (71) and is second in blocks (23) and field-goal percentage (.459). Sophomore forward Jasmina Ilic leads the Buffaloes in total points (275) but her per game average is slightly lower due to one more game played (McFarland missed the Nevada game with an ankle injury). Ilic tops the Buffaloes in 3-point field goals with 37, 28 of which came during the Big 12 schedule. Senior point guard Veronica Johns-Richardson is just behind McFarland and Ilic in scoring (10.0 ppg) and paces the Buffs in assists (82), steals (54) and 3-point field-goal percentage (.407, 35x86). Sophomore forward Anna Nedovic has started all but one game this season and ranks second in rebounding (6.4 rpg) and fifth in scoring (8.4 ppg). Freshman center Kara Richards is at nine points per game, is third in rebounding (5.3 rpg) and leads the Buffs in blocked shots with 28. Junior Whitney Law is sixth on the squad in the scoring column at 6.3 points per game and is second on the squad in assists (48) and steals (31).
COLORADO AND THE BIG 12 TOURNAMENT...Some facts about Colorado and the Big 12 Tournament:
- Colorado is 7-7 in Big 12 Tournament Games
- Colorado won the inaugural Big 12 Tournament in 1997 as the No. 3 seed defeating No. 5 Kansas State, 55-54, in the championship game.
- The 12th seed is the lowest for Colorado in the nine-year history of the Big 12 Tournament.
- The previous low seed was Colorado was 10th in 2000 with the Buffaloes picking up an 83-68 first round win over No. 7 seed Missouri.
- Colorado is 2-1 in Big 12 Tournament first round games (seeded fifth or lower).
- The 12th seed has yet to win a game in the Big 12 Tournament (0-8) and has lost by an average of 15.4 points per game. The closest No. 5-No. 12 game was in 2002 with Texas escaping with a 63-61 win over Kansas.
For the complete release and statistics click on the link below.