Buffs Hold Down Mines In Exhibition

BOULDER — Jackie McFarland had 17 points and eight rebounds to lead Colorado to a 58-31 exhibition win over the Colorado School of Mines Thursday night at the Coors Events Conference Center. 

Colorado opened the game on a 12-0 run, holding Colorado Mines with out a field goal until the 13:41 mark of the first half. The Buffaloes hit eight of their first 14 shots and increased their lead to 23-7 on a Britney Blythe field goal with 8:25 remaining.

Colorado Mines cut the lead to nine at 28-19 with 2:08 left in the half, but the Buffaloes scored the final five points of the half and never let the lead back below 10 points.

"Overall, I'm pleased with our performance tonight," McFarland said. "On offense we need to score more, but we played very well as a team." 

 
Freshman Brittany Spears had 10 points, five rebounds and four steals for the Buffaloes while senior guard Susie Powers had nine points on three 3-point field goals. Blythe finished with six points while fellow point guard Whitney Houston had four points and a team-best four assists.

After the fast start, Colorado tailed off from the field hitting just nine of its final 37 shots to finish the game at 33 percent (17-of-51).

"I thought the biggest surprise was our offensive output," CU head coach Kathy McConnell-Miller said. "I was surprised with how few points we scored, but I think that was a result of trying to find who the points are going to come from and the lack of comfort in the new offense."

The Buffaloes defense held Colorado Mines to just 25 percent from the field and forced 24 turnovers. Emily Dalton led the Orediggers with 14 points. Brecca Gaffney and Peanut Eickelman had six rebounds each.

Colorado opens the 2007-08 regular season on Friday, Nov. 16, at San Francisco.