Buffaloes Defense Clamps Down On Mines In 55-28 Exhibition Win

BOULDER-Colorado Junior Jasmina Ilic scored 29 points ? one more than Colorado School of Mines did as a team ? to lead the Buffaloes past the Orediggers 55-28 in exhibition women's basketball Thursday night at the Coors Events Conference Center.

Colorado held the Orediggers to just 16 percent from the field (8-of-45) and forced 26 turnovers. Mines scored just 11 points in the second half and went without a field goal for a 12-minute span in the second half.

Ilic hit 9-of-20 from the field (45 percent), but was even more dangerous from the 3-point arc, nailing 4-of-7 from downtown. Ilic, who was also 7-of-9 from the free-throw line, grabbed six rebounds, dished out three assists and had two steals.

"I anticipated that Jasmina would be getting that many touches, but it surprised me that we didn't establish a better presence inside," CU head coach Kathy McConnell-Miller said. "We have to know that in the near future that Kara Richards and Jackie McFarland have to establish themselves as a presence."

McFarland was CU's only other player in double digits with 10 points. Richards, double and triple teamed at times, hit just 1-of-8 from the floor but had a team-high eight rebounds and four steals.

"We finally played against somebody besides ourselves," Ilic said. "They (Mines) are a hustle team and we knew that coming in.  We picked it up in the second half.  We played better defense and we were more composed

Colorado Mines was led by junior Iva Tomova who scored 12 points. Angela Pearson led the Orediggers in rebounds with 10.

Colorado built an 11-4 lead over the first eight minutes of the game. Mines followed with a 12-4 run taking their first lead (16-13) on a Tomova 3-point field goal with 7:38 left in the first half

The Orediggers were able to climb back in the lead despite hitting only three of their first 19 shots (15.8 percent). Mines held a 17-11 edge in rebounds over the first 13 minutes of the contest including nine on the offensive end.

Colorado led by just two at 19-17 with 2:00 left when Ilic took over. She hit three straight 3-point shots over a 1:30 span to increase CU's lead to 28-17 at halftime. Ilic finished with 19 points in the first half on 5-of-11 from the field.

The Buffaloes will play their second of two exhibition games on Friday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m. against Regis at the Coors Events Conference Center.