Ilic Scores 27 As Buffs Beat Texas Tech
BOULDER – After going scoreless against Texas Tech one year ago in Lubbock, University of Colorado senior Jasmina Ilic had redemption on her mind as well as the possibility of reaching the 1,000 point milestone and giving her Buffaloes 10 wins for the first time in three seasons.
Ilic wasn't about to be shut out again.
Ilic scored a game-high 27 points, passing the 1,000 point barrier in the process, and hit two late free-throws to seal a 70-67 win over Texas Tech University Saturday night at the Coors Events/Conference Center.
The Buffaloes improve to 10-11 overall and 4-5 in Big 12 play after winning just three conference games in 2005-06 and two in 2004-05. Texas Tech falls to 14-9, 5-4 in league play.
Ilic, who entered the game needing just 15 points to become the 21st player in team history to reach 1,000 points, hit 9-of-16 from the field including a season-high five 3-point field goals. She passed the milestone at the 10 minute, 10 second mark of the second half on a layup that broke a 49-49 tie.
Texas Tech's LaVonda Henderson tied the game at 51 with a layup of her own. Ilic then scored the next five points, including a 3-pointer, to give CU its largest lead of the game at 56-51 with 7:37 remaining.
The Lady Raiders responded with a 10-0 run over the next 2:31. Alesha Robertson, who had a team-high 21 points, sparked Texas Tech during the run by assisting on a Patrice Edwards bucket and scoring six straight points of her own. Jordan Murphree hit a jumper in the lane to give Tech a 61-56 lead with 5:06 on the clock.
Colorado quickly erased the Lady Raiders' advantage. Jackie McFarland scored on a layup and Ilic hit a jumper on the left baseline to cut the lead to 61-60 at the 3:53 mark.
After Robertson added a free throw to give Tech a 62-60 lead, the Lady Raiders had the ball with 2:55 left when CU freshman Whitney Houston stole the ball from Brooke Baughman and led the break down the floor. Houston dished off to Skildum who was fouled hard by Edwards, prompting an intentional foul call. Skildum, who had a season-high eight points, hit both free throws to tie the game at 62.
Seconds later, Baughman fouled Ilic who hit both attempts to give the Buffaloes a short-lived 64-62 lead. Murphree responded with a layup and was fouled with 2:29 remaining for the game's 10th tie, 64-64. She missed the free throw, but Edwards corralled the rebound. Baughman scored on a layup and was fouled. She did hit the free throw, and Tech led 67-64 with 2:22 left in the game.
Caley Dow put CU back to within one with a layup with 2:02 left. After three-straight Texas Tech misses, McFarland, who with 10 points, nine rebounds and five assists, gave CU the lead for good at 68-67 with 1:07 left. The Buffs got the ball back after Baughman missed on a 3-pointer. Houston missed a lay up opportunity, but Skildum grabbed the offensive rebound. After a CU timeout, Ilic controlled the inbounds pass and was fouled by Baughman. She hit both attempts with 11 seconds remaining to provide the final margin. Raquel Christian's last-second 3-point attempt fell short of the rim.
Colorado stayed close in the first half despite Texas Tech's hot shooting. The Lady Raiders hit 56 percent in the first 20 minutes, a season-high for a CU opponent, but led by just two at the break, 34-32. Colorado shot just 37 percent in the first half but kept it close by grabbing 14 first-half offensive rebounds.
CU's success on the glass led to a 12-0 advantage in second chance points in the first half, and 22-5 for the game. The Buffaloes finished with 23 offensive rebounds, their most since the 2001-02 season, and their most in a league game since they had 24 against Iowa State on Feb. 18, 1996.
Colorado will travel to play the University of Kansas on Tuesday, Feb. 6, at 6 p.m. MST at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence.