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Buffs Think Pink Saturday

Feb 15, 2008

THE GAME: The University of Colorado will host the University of Texas on Saturday, Feb. 16, at 7 p.m. at the Coors Events/Conference Center.

BROADCAST: Saturday's game will be broadcast live on KKZN AM 760. Mike Rice, in his second season, will have the play-by-play with Carol Callan of USA Basketball providing the color commentary. Live video streaming of Saturday's battle will be available to BuffsTV subscribers at CUBuffs.com. Live internet audio can be accessed through Yahoo! Sports.

THINK PINK & ALUMNI GAME: Join Colorado women's basketball for a Super Saturday, Feb. 16, as the Buffaloes host an Alumni game at 4:30 p.m. followed by a Big 12 Conference showdown between CU and Texas set for 7 p.m. at the Coors Events/Conference Center.

The Buffaloes are proud to support the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's (WBCA) "Think Pink" initiative which is a global, unified effort for the organization's nation of coaches to assist in raising breast cancer awareness on the court, accross campuses, in communities and beyond. Over 900 schools nation wide have joined the fight against breast cancer with Think Pink activities, Feb. 8-17.

Colorado's women's basketball team will be wearing pink Nike shooting shirts, shoelaces and hair bands during its game with the Longhorns. Additionally, coach Kathy McConnell-Miller would like to invite all cancer survivors out to the floor to build a tunnel for the team introductions prior to tip-off.

CU Athletics encourages all fans to wear pink and the first 500 fans will receive a free pair of pink Crocs.

The Herd, the student arm of the Alumni Association, will be taking donations to benefit the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation to fight breast cancer at the Northwest Entrance of the Events Center.

For more information on the Think Pink initiative, visit www.wbca.org/thinkpink.asp.

Colorado's Alumni game will feature former head coach Ceal Barry at the helm of the white team while former Buff Gail Hook (1979-82) will lead the black team.

THE BUFFALOES: Colorado is 13-11 overall and resides in 11th place in the Big 12 Conference at 2-9, one-half game behind Texas Tech which is 2-8. The Buffaloes have lost a season-high six straight -- their most since 2004-05 -- and nine of their last 10 games since winning 11 in a row earlier in the season. It's the first time in school history the Buffaloes have endured a six game winning streak and a six game losing streak in the same season. CU has equalled its win total from the 2006-07 season (13-17) and has its best record since 2003-04 when the Buffs last made the NCAA Tournament. CU will be looking for its first win since defeating Kansas, 59-41, on Jan. 22 and to do so will have to beat a Texas team that has won eight straight in the series.

 

Senior All-America candidate Jackie McFarland leads the Buffaloes at 17.9 points and 8.0 rebounds per game while shooting 57 percent from the field (144-of-252). Her numbers have remained solid during league play averaging 18.5 points and 7.9 rebounds while shooting 56 percent (67-of-120). She is second on the team in assists (2.7 apg) and third in blocks (1.2 bpg). McFarland is the fourth player in team history to reach 1,700 points and is one of only two players -- joining Lisa Van Goor -- to have 1,700 points and 900 rebounds. The All-Big 12 forward once again can be found among the Top 10 in most league statistical categories ranking second in field-goal percentage, scoring and minutes, fifth in rebounding and free-throw percentage and 10th in blocked shots.

Freshman Brittany Spears is making a name for herself as well. Named the Big 12 Rookie of the Week for the second time this season on Feb. 11, her 338 points are the most by a freshman since 1993-94 when Erin Scholz scored 343. Her 14.1 points per game average is on pace to be the best by a CU freshman since Shelley Sheetz averaged 14.1 in 1991-92 and the best by any first-year player since Isabelle Fijalkowski averaged 16.1 in 1994-95, her lone season in Boulder. An all-around performer, she is only the second player in team history to record 40 blocks, 40 assists and 40 steals in the same season (Raegan Scott did it as a junior in 1995-96 and as a senior in 1996-97). Spears' numbers for rebounds (7.2 rpg), steals (1.9 spg) and blocks (1.7 bpg) are also on pace to be among the Top 5 performances by a CU freshman in team history, in fact her 40 blocks are already third on the Buffs' freshman list. She leads CU in free-throw percentage (.871, 54-of-62) and tops the Big 12 at 92 percent (33-of-36) during league only games. Her scoring, rebounding, free-throw percentage and blocks per game top all freshmen in the Big 12 while she is also second in steals, and fourth in assists (1.8 apg).

In the backcourt, senior guard Susie Powers averages a team-best 3.9 assists per game. She's on pace to have the most assists by Buffs player since Mandy Nightingale had 161 (4.7 apg) during the 2001-02 season. Powers, who had a career-high 10 assists in the win over Pepperdine, is 14th in the nation (through games of Feb. 10) and leads the Big 12 with a 2.1 assist-to-turnover ratio (93 assists-45 turnovers) and also ranks eighth in the Big 12 in assists.

Sophomore Aija Putnina, who has started the last 21 contests, is averaging 8.0 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game. Putnina is eighth in blocks and 13th in rebounding on the Big 12 charts.

Sophomore Bianca Smith, who entered the starting lineup for the first time this season against Oklahoma State, ranks third on the team in scoring at 9.8 points per game and leads the team in 3-pointers with 55. A formidable "Sixth-Woman" candidate in the Big 12 this season, Smith was named Big 12 Player of the Week on Dec. 10 after averaging 19.0 points and hitting 57 percent from the field in games against No. 22 (AP)/21 (WBCA) Wyoming and No. 20/17 Vanderbilt.

Junior Hannah Skildum, who has started 16 of the 24 games this season, provides a strong defensive presence to Colorado's back court and averages 3.4 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.0 assists on the season. Whitney Houston and Britney Blythe have also seen extended minutes in the Colorado backcourt. Houston's minutes have increased over the past five games including a season-high 33 minutes at Kansas where she scored eight points with three steals and three assists. Blythe, played key minutes off the bench in Colorado's win over Kansas, scoring eight points and grabbing three rebounds.

Colorado has several front-court options off the bench. Junior Caley Dow is averaging 5.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists over the last three games and is hitting 56 percent from the field (9-of-16) over the last five. Freshman Courtney Dunn had six points and five rebounds off the bench against No. 10 Oklahoma and has played double-digit minutes in four of her last six appearances. Junior Kara Richards has made 58 percent of her shots on the season (23-of-40) and is coming off her best Big 12 performance of the year scoring five points and grabbing five rebounds with a pair of blocked shots at Kansas.

Colorado is averaging 66.6 points per game while holding opponents to 60.8 per contest, but the Buffaloes have given up 78.5 points over the last four games. Overall CU is shooting 43 percent from the field and out rebounding opponents by three boards per game. In Big 12 play, Colorado is scoring 62.7 points per game and shooting 40 percent from the field while opponents hold a 2.9 per game rebounding edge. Colorado has made just 28 percent from 3-point range during the league slate while opponents have connected on 39 percent from downtown.

ABOUT THE LONGHORNS: Texas is 16-8 overall and tied with Iowa State for seventh place in the Big 12 at 4-6. The Longhorns are coming off a 61-51 upset of No. 8 (AP & WBCA) Baylor in Austin on Feb. 13. The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Longhorns and they will be looking for their first Big 12 road win of the season (0-4, 3-5 overall). Texas has been a solid defensive team this season, allowing just under 60 points per game. The Longhorns rank among the Big 12's top five in field-goal percentage defense, 3-point percentage defense, steals, blocks and turnover margin.

Sophomore guard Brittainey Raven paces Texas in scoring at 15.3 points per game while averaging 4.8 rebounds and two steals a contest. Junior post Ashley Lindsey leads UT with 7.0 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game while hitting 52 percent from the field. Sophomore Carla Cortijo runs the Texas offense averaging 9.3 points and 4.8 assists per game.

SERIES RECORDS: This will be the 17th meeting between Colorado and Texas with the Longhorns holding a 13-3 series lead. Texas has won the last eight meetings which is the longest current streak and ties for the longest overall streak any of the Big 12 teams have against the Buffaloes (Kansas State won eight straight in the series from 2003-06). Colorado's last win over Texas was a 79-75 decision at the Coors Events Center on Feb. 19, 2000. The win is also CU's lone win over UT in Boulder as the Longhors hold a 5-1 edge at the Coors Events Center.

COLORADO AND TEXAS, LAST 10:

Date Result Date Result

1/13/07 (A) L, 49-68 2/19/03 (A) L, 55-75

2/4/06 (H) L, 64-69 1/6/02 (H) L, 68-70

2/23/05 (A) L, 40-83 1/31/01 (A) L, 62-65

2/14/04 (H) L, 45-51 2/19/00 (H) W, 79-75

3/13/03 (N) L, 47-62 1/2/99 (A) L, 65-83

AWARDS PILING UP FOR McFARLAND: Jackie McFarland has been named one of 10 finalists for the 2008 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. Additionally, McFarland earned a spot on the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VII Women's Basketball first team for the third straight year. Both honors were announced Feb. 7.

McFarland was one of 30 original nominees for the Senior CLASS Award that was pared down to 10 finalists by a national media committee.

The award ? presented annually to the NCAA Division I Student-Athlete of the Year in eight sports ? focuses on the "Four C's" of classroom, character, community and competition. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the award was launched during the 2001-02 season to honor the attributes of college basketball seniors who remain committed to their university and pursue the many rewards that a senior season and complete college education brings.

A native of Derby, Kan., McFarland is a two-time Academic All-American sporting a 3.86 GPA. She is working on a concurrent degree program which will allow her to earn her MBA while completing her undergraduate degree in accounting. McFarland won CU's Scholar-Athlete Award in the spring of 2007 for having the highest GPA in her class. McFarland is a three-year team captain and is actively involved in CU's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. SAAC is the governing body for student-athletes at CU which assists in the development and implementation of programs that motivate student-athletes to strive for and be recognized for academic excellence and community involvement.

McFarland is a 2008 Naismith Award semifinalist and she was tabbed as a preseason first team All-Big 12 selection and one of the top five power forwards in the country by ESPN.com.

Fans nationwide can vote on the Senior CLASS Award finalists from now through March 21. Fan balloting, available on the award's official website www.seniorclassaward.com, will be combined with votes from coaches, media and sponsors to determine the recipient of the award. Winners will be announced during the NCAA Men's and Women's Final Four.

McFarland will also move onto the national ballot for the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America team voted on by the College Sports Information Director's of America (CoSIDA). McFarland earned second team Academic All-America status in 2006 and 2007. The 2008 Academic All-America team will be announced on Tuesday, Feb. 26. She will be looking to become Colorado's third three-time Academic All-American joining Jim Hansen (Football, 1990-92) and Kelly Smith (Cross Country/Track & Field (1996-98).

SMITH, SPEARS EARN BIG 12 WEEKLY HONORS: Colorado has been recognized with Big 12 weekly honors three times this season. Sophomore guard Bianca Smith was named the Phillips 66 Big 12 Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Week on Dec. 10 and freshman forward Brittany Spears was named Rookie of the Week on Jan. 7 and again Feb. 11.

In her most recent honor, Spears averaged 19 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.0 blocks while hitting 48 percent from the field in games against Nebraska and No. 10 (AP & WBCA) Oklahoma. Her other honor came right before the beginning of the Big 12 season as she helped Colorado register its 10th straight win by scoring 16 points and grabbing seven rebounds in a 65-53 decision over Pepperdine on Jan. 4.

Smith averaged 19 points, two assists and two rebounds off the bench while leading Colorado to wins over No. 22 (AP)/21 (WBCA) Wyoming and at No. 20/17 Vanderbilt. Colorado broke a 23-game losing streak against ranked teams with its 69-55 win over Wyoming on Dec. 5. The Buffaloes then made it wins in back-to-back games over ranked teams for the first time since the 2002 NCAA Tournament with a 62-51 triumph at Vanderbilt on Dec. 9.

Against Wyoming, Smith scored 16 points on 5-of-8 from the floor with three assists as Colorado broke a three-game losing streak against the Cowgirls. Smith had an even bigger game against Vanderbilt. She had a career-high 22 points on 7-of-14 from the field with three rebounds, one steal and one assist as the Buffs handed the Commodores just their second loss in 23 home games.

BLOCK PARTY: Colorado is blocking shots at a record pace. The Buffaloes rank third in the Big 12 at 5.7 blocks per game and second during conference only games at six per contest. CU's 5.7 average puts them on pace to break the school single-season record of 162 set in 2000-01. CU's 136 blocks on the season already ranks fourth on the team's single-season list. Freshman Brittany Spears leads the way with 40 blocks while sophomore Aija Putnina is second with 34. It's the first time since the 2001-02 season the Buffaloes have two players with 30 or more blocks in one year. Britt Hartshorn led the 2001-02 team with 46 while Tera Bjorklund had 37. Of course we can't forget about senior Jackie McFarland who happens to rank fourth on CU's all-time blocks list with 129. She has 29 this season which means one more block would give the Buffaloes three players with 30 or more blocks for the first time in team history.

CU's high for a game this season was 13 against Dartmouth, the second highest single-game total in team history, trailing only the school record 16 set against Sam Houston in a 99-60 win on Dec. 14, 2000. CU followed up that performance with 12 against Iowa State on Jan. 13. The Buffaloes, who have three games this season with 10 or more blocks, ranked 11th in the NCAA in blocked shots through games of Feb. 10.

3-POINTERS FALLING: Colorado's 3-point shooting has cooled off during the Big 12 schedule as the Buffs have made just 28 percent and average 5.4 made per game. However, the Buffaloes are still on pace to have their most prolific season from 3-point range in team history. Colorado's 168 3-point field goals rank third on the team single-season list and the Buffs are just 29 away from breaking the 2001-02 team record of 196. CU's 533 3-point field goal attempts are a school record, breaking the old mark of 501 set in 2001-02.

Colorado is second in the Big 12 Conference and ranks 16th in the nation in 3-point field goals per game. The Buffaloes have a school single-season record seven games with 10 or more 3-point field goals. The previous season high was five in the 34-game 2001-02 season. CU had a season-high 14 against Colorado State, its second best single-game total (CU had 16 against Buffalo on Jan. 3, 2004). That came during a string of netting 10 or more 3-pointers in four straight games for the first time. The Buffs had 10 3-pointers against Wyoming and Northern Colorado and 13 against Rice. Against UNC, the Buffs set a school record for 3-point field goal attempts in one half with 21 in the first stanza and finished the game with 36 attempts, just one shy of the school record of 37 set against Buffalo on Jan. 3, 2004.

Individually, it hasn't been one player doing the damage. Ten different players on the CU roster have at least two 3-point field goals and nine have attempted at least 10. Sophomore Bianca Smith leads the team with 55, Brittany Spears is second with 38 and Susie Powers has 21.

NUMBERS FOR McFARLAND: Jackie McFarland has had six double-doubles this season which is fourth in the Big 12. She ranks second in CU history in career double-doubles with 43 and her 45 career double-digit rebounding games are third on the CU career charts. She needs just one more double-digit rebounding game to tie Erin Scholz (1993-97) for second.

McFarland became the fourth player in school history to reach 1,700 points against Oklahoma State and joins all-time scoring leader Lisa Van Goor as the only two players to record 1,700 points and 900 rebounds in a career. She is just 38 rebounds away from becoming the third player in team history to reach 1,000.

McFarland is CU's all-time leader in free-throws made with 511, and ranks second in free-throw attempts (667), fourth in blocked shots (129), sixth in minutes (3,560) and tied for seventh in field goals made (606).

1,000th GAME: Colorado's 80-71 loss to Nebraska on Feb. 6 marked the 1,000th game in team history. In their 34th season, the Buffaloes sport an all-time record of 621-381 heading into Saturday's game. CU's 621 wins rank fifth among Big 12 teams -- with Kansas and Kansas State having played six more seasons than the Buffs -- and its .620 winning percentage ranks fourth trailing only Texas, Texas Tech and Kansas State.

DEFENSE IN THE KANSAS GAME: Colorado's 59-41 win over Kansas was won, in large part thanks to its defense. The 41 points allowed to the Jayhawks tied for the third lowest against a Big 12 opponent during the regular season. Three of the four lowest totals have come against the Jayhawks:

35 -- Colorado 70, at Kansas 35, Jan. 16, 2002

40 -- Colorado 69, at Texas A&M 40, Feb. 8, 1997

41 -- at Colorado 59, Kansas 41, Jan. 22, 2008

41 -- at Colorado 80, Kansas 41, Jan. 29, 2002

The 18-point margin of victory was also the highest by a Kathy McConnell-Miller led team in a Big 12 game, beating the previous margin of 14 against Iowa State on Jan. 10, 2007 (81-67).

YOUTH SERVED: Colorado's freshman class was key in the Buffaloes win over Kansas combining for 31 points, the most by a freshman class since the trio of Whitney Houston (25), Candace Rucker (6) and Aija Putnina (3) combined for 34 in a 70-68 overtime loss at Kansas last season. Brittany Spears led the way with 14 points while Courtney Dunn pitched in a career-high nine points and Britney Blythe had eight off the bench.

DOUBLE OT: Colorado went double-overtime for just the fifth time in school history and the first time at the Coors Events Center with its 84-77 loss to Iowa State on Jan. 13. It was the first double-overtme for CU since the Buffaloes defeated the Cyclones 68-66 at Iowa State on Jan. 18, 1997, and the Buffs fell to 16-20 all-time in overtime and 2-3 in double-overtime. Seniors Jackie McFarland and Susie Powers each played 48 minutes in the game, tying a school record initially set by Tracy Tripp against Oklahoma State on March 6, 1989.

BIG 12 OPENERS: Colorado evened its record in Big 12 Conference openers at 6-6 by defeating Missouri 70-58 on Jan. 9. It was Colorado's first season-opening Big 12 win on the road since the Buffs beat Baylor to begin the 2004 league slate. The 12-point margin was also the Buffs highest in a conference road opener since a 67-53 win at Missouri to open the 1993 Big Eight schedule. Colorado, now 20-14 in all-time conference openers, are 16-9 in home league openers since 1983 and 6-5 in the Big 12 era.

OPENING NIGHT STAR: Colorado freshman Brittany Spears joined some elite company in her Big 12 debut. Her 24 points were the second-most in team history for a freshman in her first league game. Only CU Athletic Hall of Fame member and 1995 All-American Shelley Sheetz had more points in a conference debut as she scored 25 during a 75-69 loss at Nebraska on Jan. 15, 1992. Her seven rebounds tie current teammate Jackie McFarland for the most by a freshman in a road opener since 1994. McFarland had seven in an 84-62 setback at Nebraska on Jan. 5, 2005.

NUMBERS ON 11 STRAIGHT: Colorado saw its 11-game win streak end against Iowa State, but the run was the seventh longest in team history and the most consecutive victories since the 1994-95 team matched a CU All-Sports record 25 straight wins (shared with the 1939-41 baseball team). Here are the Buffs' all-time best win streaks:

Wins Season Record Noteable

1. 25 1994-95 30-3 NCAA Elite Eight, 14-0 in Big Eight

2. 20 1988-89 27-4 NCAA 1st Round, 14-0 in Big Eight

3. 15 1992-93 27-4 NCAA Elite Eight, 15-0 season start

4. 14 1991-92 22-9 NCAA 1st Rd, Big Eight Tourney Champs

5. 12 1981-82 28-8 AIAW National 1st Round

12 1980-81 28-5 First of two 9-plus winning streaks in ?81

7. 11 2007-08 ?? First 11-plus streak since 1994-95

8. 9 2003-04 22-8 NCAA 1st Round

9 1993-94 27-5 NCAA Sweet 16

9 1992-93 27-4 NCAA Elite Eight, Big Eight Champs

9 1980-81 28-5 First AIAW National Appearance

9 1978-79 22-9 3rd place in AIAW Regional

PERFECT DECEMBER: Colorado registered a perfect 7-0 record for the month of December for the first time since 2003-04, and for just the sixth time in team history. The Buffaloes matched the 1980-81 and 1981-82 teams which were both 7-0 in December. The 1992-93 team had a program best December mark of 9-0, while the 2002-03 squad was 6-0 and 5-0 in 2003-04. CU is 118-54 (.686) all-time in the month of December.

DEFENSE WINS: Colorado has enjoyed some impressive defensive numbers at times this season.

The Buffaloes have held six opponents under 50 points in 2007; 29-vs. Texas Southern, 38-vs. Southern Utah, 41-vs. Kansas, 43-vs. Dartmouth, 47-at Colorado State and 48-at San Francisco. CU had held their opponent under 50 points just three times total in the previous three seasons.

CU yielded less than 50 points in three-straight games -- Texas Southern, Dartmouth and Southern Utah -- the first such streak since 2003-04. The Buffs' six sub-50 point defensive performances are the most in one season since the 2002-03 squad registered nine.

Colorado had a historic performance from a defensive perspective against Texas Southern. The Buffaloes held the Lady Tigers to just 29 points, which ties for the fourth-lowest total in team history (equals a 79-29 win over Iowa State on Feb. 19, 1993). It was just the fifth time in CU history the Buffs have held an opponent under 30 points (the ISU game in 1993 being the last). CU allowed just 13 second-half points, tying for the second-lowest second-half total in team history (also done in the ISU game and against Utah State on Jan. 28, 1981). The Buffaloes forced Texas Southern into 32 turnovers, the most since forcing 35 against Detroit Mercy on Nov. 24, 2002.

RANK STREAK IS OVER: Colorado had its biggest week in early December in several years in terms of success against ranked teams.

Colorado's 69-55 win over No. 21/22 Wyoming snapped a 23-game Buffs' losing streak to ranked teams. The Buffaloes last win over a ranked opponent had been a 69-59 decision at No. 24 Baylor on Jan. 7, 2004 where CU was ranked No. 14 at the time. The win was Colorado's first against a ranked team while being unranked since knocking off No. 12 North Carolina 86-67 in the second round of the 2003 NCAA Tournament.

The Buffaloes kept the momentum going four days later with a 62-51 win at No. 20/17 Vanderbilt. The win gave CU's its first two-game win streak against ranked teams since knocking off No. 23 Washington and No. 24 Baylor in 2003-04. It's the first pair of wins over two ranked teams in back-to-back games since the 2002 NCAA Tournament when the Buffs defeated No. 22/24 LSU in the second round and No. 5 Stanford in the Sweet 16. It was Colorado's first win on the road over a ranked opponent since defeating No. 24 Baylor 69-59 in Waco, Texas, on Jan. 7. 2004. It was CU's first win over a ranked opponent as an unranked team since defeating No. 12 Texas in Austin, 60-56, on Feb. 26, 1997.

RANKING OF OUR OWN: With its recent slide, Colorado did not receive votes in either the AP or WBCA Top 25 polls released this week. CU had at least received votes for six-straight weeks from Dec. 10 through Jan. 22. The Buffaloes were ranked in four straight AP polls, peaking at No. 23 on Jan. 1 and Jan. 8. The Buffaloes debuted in the 2007 AP poll at No. 25 on Dec. 24 for their first national ranking since finishing No. 17 (AP)/No. 24 (WBCA) in the final 2003-04 polls. Colorado has a rich tradition in the AP poll, making 158 appearances since 1980. The Buffs were ranked in 75 straight polls from Mar. 15, 1992 to Dec. 9, 1996 and 30 straight from Jan. 22, 2001 to Mar. 22, 2002.

With Colorado's early-season AP ranking, Buffs head coach Kathy McConnell-Miller became the 22nd person in NCAA Division I women's history to play for and coach an AP ranked team. McConnell-Miller was a four-year letterwinner at Virginia (1986-90) where she played in four NCAA Tournaments with the Cavaliers including a pair of Sweet 16 appearances and the 1988 Elite Eight.

ON THE ROAD: Colorado is 4-6 on the road this season and had won three straight for the first time since 2003-04 before falling at Kansas State on Jan. 19. The four wins doubles the team road win total from the previous two seasons combined (1-10 in 2006-07 and 1-9 in 2004-05) and one more would match CU's win total from the previous three seasons (5-28). CU's 82-47 win over Colorado State was significant on several fronts. The 35-point margin was the Buffs' highest on the road since a 70-35 win over Kansas on Jan. 16, 2002 and it was also their largest win over Colorado State (regardless of venue) since a 112-48 win on Nov. 16, 1979. The 82 points were the most CU has scored on an opponents home court since the Buffs' last trip to Moby Arena, an 86-83 loss to the Rams on Nov. 30, 2005. Colorado broke Vanderbilt's 10-game home winning streak and handed the Commodores just their second loss in 23 home games, the other coming last season against eventual national champion Tennessee.

CAPTAINS NAMED: Seniors Jackie McFarland and Susie Powers and junior Caley Dow will serve as team captains for the 2007-08 season. McFarland is a captain for a third straight season, Powers is in her second year as captain and Dow is a captain for the first time. CU team captains are voted on by players prior to the first regular season contest each year.

McFARLAND PRESEASON ALL-BIG 12; BUFFS PICKED 11TH: Senior forward Jackie McFarland has been named to the 2007-08 Preseason All-Big 12 Conference Women's Basketball team by a vote of league coaches.

McFarland is CU's second preseason All-Big 12 honoree as former Buffaloes standout Erin Scholz was named to the 1996-97 squad. She joins Nebraska forward Kelsey Griffin, Oklahoma center Courtney Paris and Texas A&M guards A'Quonesia Franklin and Takia Starks on the five-member preseason team. All five players were first team All-Big 12 picks last winter.

McFarland topped the Big 12 and ranked third in the nation in field-goal accuracy in 2006-07 at 61 percent. She was second in the Big 12 in scoring (17.8 ppg) and rebounding (10.8 rpg) and led the league in minutes at 36.4 per game.

Despite returning eight players from a team that finished tied for seventh last season, the Buffaloes were picked to finish 11th in the Big 12 in 2007-08 in annual preseason coaches poll.

Defending co-champion Texas A&M was picked to win the 2008 title with seven first place votes and 117 points overall, just edging out the league's other co-champion, Oklahoma who had the other five first place votes and 115 points. The Big South held down the top five spots in the poll as Baylor was third with 97 points followed by Texas (86) and Oklahoma State (66). Iowa State was the top North school (64) followed by Nebraska (56), Kansas State and Texas Tech (54 each), Kansas (43), Colorado (29) and Missouri (11).