Balanced And Accurate Mizzou Attack Downs Buffs

BOULDER - Jackie McFarland's 13th double-double of the season wasn't enough to stop Missouri's balanced attack as the Tigers defeated the Buffaloes 72-57 on Saturday evening at the Coors Events/Conference Center to claim their first season sweep over CU since 1990.

Missouri guard Tiffany Brooks scored 20 points and center Christelle N'Garsanet had 16 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Tigers (19-6, 9-4 Big 12). MU forwards EeTisha Riddle and Carlynn Savant each pitched in 11 points and combined for 13 rebounds.

Missouri hit 50 percent from the field in the game and 56 percent in the second half as the Tigers pulled away in the final 20 minutes.

Colorado (8-18, 2-11 Big 12) trailed by just five in mid-way through the second half, but the Tigers ended the game on a 24-14 run. The Buffaloes, who actually erased a 16-point Missouri lead in the first half, went cold in the second half hitting just 8-of-27 from the field (.296).

McFarland scored 22 points and had 12 rebounds for her 13th double-double of the season, the fourth best single-season mark in team history. She is only the second different player in team history with 13 double-doubles as the other three belong to CU Hall of Famer Lisa VanGoor. Her 18 career double-doubles ties Sabrina Scott (2000-03) for the fifth on the CU career charts. She also registered her sixth 20 point, 10 rebound double-double of the 2005-06 campaign.

Senior guard Whitney Law had 15 points and sophomore Yari Escalera had 11 points on her 20th birthday. The Buffaloes had only seven scholarship players dressed for Saturday's game as starting forward Jasmina Ilic, averaging nearly 15 points per contest, missed the game with an injured shoulder and reserve center Tami Garnett had the flu. Freshman Hannah Skildum started in place of Ilic, but was held scoreless.

Missouri jumped all over Colorado at the opening tip. The Tigers hit 10 of their first 11 from the field to build a 25-9 lead in the first six minutes of the game. Conversely, The Buffaloes hit just 2-of-10 to open the game and had five turnovers in that same span.

The Buffaloes then held Missouri scoreless over the next 5:11, embarking on a 14-0 run of their own. Colorado continued to whittle away at the Tigers, tying the game at 29 on a McFarland layup with 2:23 remaining in the half. McFarland scored 14 first-half points, hitting 7-of-12 from the field.

While Colorado hit 11 of its final 20 shots of the half, Missouri cooled considerably as well, making just 3-of-18 to end the period. Take away Missouri's 3-of-18 spell to end the first half, the Tigers hit 24 their other 36 attempts (.667).

Colorado will continue Big 12 action against defending NCAA champion and No.12/11 ranked Baylor on Wednesday, Feb. 22 , at 6 p.m. MST in Waco, Texas.

.