Richards, McFarland Pace Buffs To Big 12 Win Over Missouri

BOULDER — Sophomore center Kara Richards and junior forward Jackie McFarland each recorded double-doubles to pace the University of Colorado to a 71-59 win over the University of Missouri on Wednesday night at the Coors Events Conference Center in the Big 12 Conference opener for both teams.

Colorado improves to 7-6 overall, snapping a three-game losing skid against the Tigers, and in the process registering its largest margin of victory ever in a Big 12 opener. Missouri falls to 12-2.

Richards scored 11 points on a perfect 5-of-5 from the field, and grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds for her first collegiate double-double. McFarland had a game-high 18 points and 11 rebounds for her 27th career double-double and eighth on the season.

Missouri built a 25-15 lead with 8 minutes, 57 seconds remaining in the first half by making nine of its first 15 shot attempts (60 percent). However, the Tigers went ice cold from there making only 11 of their final 48 shots (23 percent).

Colorado took advantage by going on a 43-16 over next 23:05 of the game (the final 8:57 of the first half and the first 14:08 of the second period).

The Tigers held a 31-29 lead at halftime, but the Buffaloes came out strong in the opening minutes of the second period. Junior guard Susie Powers scored all of her career-high seven points in the first three minutes of the half, as CU claimed the lead for good.
Colorado shot 59.1 percent in the second half (13-of-22) while the Tigers made just 23.7 percent (9-of-38) which included 17-straight misses in an 11-minute span and a 1-for-23 streak.   

Senior forward Jasmina Ilic scored 10 of her 15 points in the second half while freshman guard Whitney Houston provided a spark off the bench, scoring 11 points on 5-of-9 from the field.

CU led 58-41 with 5:52 remaining in the game, when the Tigers made one last charge. An 11-2 run put the Tigers within eight at 60-52 with 3:33 left, and Tiffany Brooks' foul shots with 1:47 remaining cut the margin down to six at 63-57. The Buffaloes responded by hitting 8-of-10 from the free-throw line in the final two minutes.

Colorado will receive a bye from its Big 12 schedule this weekend and will return to action on Wednesday, Jan. 10, at 8 p.m. against Iowa State University at the CECC. The game will be televised live by Fox Sports Net Rocky Mountain.