Missouri's Big Second Half Stops Colorado

COLUMBIA, Mo.  - University of Missouri senior EeTisha Riddle scored 12 points and the Tigers hit 16-of-19 from the free throw line ? all in the second half -- to defeat the University of Colorado 61-48 in Big 12 Conference action Sunday afternoon at the Mizzou Arena.

The Buffaloes, 8-11 overall, 2-5 in league play, dropped their fifth straight overall and 10th in a row on the road dating back to last season. Missouri snaps its own four game skid improving to 14-6, 2-5 in the Big 12.

Jackie McFarland led Colorado with 19 points and eight rebounds. Whitney Houston had 10 points off the bench while Kara Richards added six points, nine rebounds and two blocked shots.

Two quick fouls by Riddle forced Missouri to go to its bench early, and It responded. Freshman Jessra Johnson, averaging just under four points per game on the season, had nine in the first half on 4-of-6 from the field.

Colorado led 12-10 with 6:25 remaining when the Tigers went on an 11-2 run. Johnson scored five straight points to spark the rally. Carlynn Savant and Marchele Campbell hit consecutive 3-point field goals to give Missouri a 23-14 lead.

The Buffaloes responded with a 6-2 run to close the half. Jasmina Ilic hit a pair of free throws and McFarland scored on a running jumper to cut the lead to 23-18.  After Kassie Drew missed a 3-pointer with six seconds left, Houston grabbed the rebound and sprinted the length of the floor, drawing a foul against Campbell with just 1.2 seconds left. She hit both free throws and the Buffaloes trailed just 23-20 at the half.

McFarland and Richards combined for CU's first 10 points of the second half as the Buffaloes retook the lead early. CU held a 37-36 advantage with 9:24 remaining when Riddle was fouled shortly after and hit a pair of foul shots to give the Tigers the lead for good. Blair Hardiek hit a 3-pointer and Riddle added a bucket to spark a 16-4 Missouri run that put the Tigers up 52-41 with 3:10 left in the contest.

Colorado closed the gap back to five at 53-48 when McFarland connected on a 3-pointer ? CU's lone 3-pointer of the game (1-of-12) -- with 51 seconds remaining. Missouri then iced the game at the line, hitting eight straight, six from Savant, while holding the Buffaloes with out a field goal on their final four possessions.

The Buffaloes made just 33.9 percent of their field goals and were held to their lowest point total of the season. CU had 49 point outputs in road losses to the University of Texas and the University of Wyoming.

Colorado will return home to host Kansas State University on Wednesday, Jan. 31, at 7 p.m. MST in the Coors Events/Conference Center. The game will be televised live on Fox Sports Net Rocky Mountain.