Buffs Look To Continue Road Magic At Oregon State
THE GAME: The University of Colorado heads back to the Pacific Northwest to face Oregon State University on Thursday, Feb. 2, at 8 p.m. MST, at Gill Coliseum in Corvallis, Ore.
BROADCAST: Due to a conflict with the CU men's game, Thursday's radio broadcast will be carried on KVCU AM 1190 with Mike Rice handling play by play duties and Carol Callan of USA Basketball providing the color commentary. Live audio is available at CUBuffs.com through BuffsTV and the BuffsRadio free subscription.
OPENING TIP: Junior guard Chucky Jeffery needs 14 points to become the 24th player in team history to reach 1,000.
ABOUT THE BUFFALOES: Colorado is 15-5 overall, and tied with Thursday's opponent Oregon State and Washington State, for sixth in the Pac-12 standings at 4-5, just one game behind fourth place USC and UCLA (5-4). The Buffaloes' 15 wins equal their regular season total from 2010-11, before moving on to the quarterfinals of the 2011 Postseason WNIT, finishing at 18-16. Colorado has won two of its last three, rebounding from a season-high three game skid in mid January. The Buffaloes defeated USC 69-67 in thrilling fashion on Jan. 26, but suffered a tough 62-54 overtime loss to UCLA on Jan. 29 at the Coors Events Center.
Colorado has shown balance with five players averaging between eight and 15 points per game. Overall the Buffaloes are averaging 63.8 points per game and shooting 41.8 percent from the field. CU had its best scoring and shooting night in conference play against USC with 69 points and 44 percent from the floor. At the mid-way point of the league season, the Buffaloes are averaging 57 points and shooting 37.4 percent in Pac-12 games. The Buffaloes rank third in the Pac-12 in field-goal percentage and rebounding margin (+6.4) and fourth in scoring defense (57.3 ppg) and rebounding defense (34.8 rpg).
Junior guard Chucky Jeffery leads the Buffaloes at 15.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. She is prominent on the Pac-12 leader board, ranking third in steals (2.5 spg), fourth in assists, fifth in defensive rebounds (6.1 drpg), sixth in scoring and free-throw percentage (.739), eighth in blocked shots (1.1 bpg), 10th in overall rebounding, 11th in assist-to-turnover ratio (0.8) and 12th in field-goal percentage (.469).
Jeffery has scored in double-figures in 17 of Colorado's 20 games. She scored the decisive points in CU's last two wins, on a basket against Arizona, breaking a 54-54 tie with just 17.7 seconds remaining, and two free throws with 1.2 seconds left in the win over USC. She has a team-best five double-doubles on the season, tied for ninth in the Pac-12. She was the MVP of CU's Omni Hotels Classic and was named Pac-12 Women's Basketball Player of the Week on Dec. 4.
Senior forward Julie Seabrook leads Colorado and ranks fourth in the Pac-12 in field goal accuracy at 56.4 percent while also ranking 14th in offensive rebounds (2.3 orpg). She is averaging 9.3 points and 5.2 rebounds in Pac-12 play, ranking second in the league in shooting at 55.7 percent during that span. Seabrook, who scored in double-figures for three straight games for the first time in her career during the league season-opening road trip, had 10 rebounds in the loss to UCLA, her third double-digit rebounding game of the season.
Sophomore guard Brittany Wilson is second on the team in assists (42) and steals (25) and tied for second in scoring at 9.5 points per contest. She has started the last three games, averaging 12.0 points, 2.5 steals and 1.8 assists during that span. Wilson led Colorado in scoring for the second straight game with 21 points against USC, her third career game with 20 or more points. On the Pac-12 charts Wilson ranks 13th in 3-pointers made (1.3 3mpg) and 3-point percentage (.329).
Brittany's twin sister Ashley Wilson is hitting 52 percent from the floor (25-of-48) while averaging 3.1 points and 2.6 rebounds per game. Wilson had nine points on 4-of-5 shooting off the bench against Stanford, a personal best during league competition. She established an overall career high scoring 13 points in the win over Weber State.
Freshman guard Lexy Kresl averages 9.5 points per game and leads the Buffaloes in both 3-point field goals (34) and free-throw accuracy at 87.5 percent. She has hit at least one 3-pointer in 17 of 20 games, and broke from a mini slump by drilling three against UCLA (she had a total of three in the previous six games). Kresl led the Buffaloes against the Bruins with 15 points, marking her first double-figure scoring effort during Pac-12 play. She ranks seventh in the Pac-12 in 3-pointers made (1.7 3mpg).
Freshman forward Jen Reese has moved into the starting lineup the last three games and is averaging 10.3 points and 9.3 rebounds during that span. She logged a career-best 14 rebounds in the loss to UCLA, the second best on the team this season (Jeffery had 16 at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi). Reese has led the Buffaloes in rebounding the last four games and seven total this season. Overall she is averaging 8.3 points and 6.5 rebounds while shooting 48.2 percent from the field (68-of-141). On the Pac-12 charts she is 10th in field-goal percentage, 14th in defensive rebounds (4.7 drpg) and 19th in overall rebounding. She recorded her first career double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds in the win at Washington State. Reese earned UTSA Holiday Classic All-Tournament honors by averaging 12.5 points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 66.7 percent over the two games (10-of-15).
Junior forward Meagan Malcolm-Peck is averaging 4.7 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. She matched a season high with nine rebounds against UCLA. Malcolm-Peck is second on the team in offensive rebounds (42) and third in assists (28).
Sophomore Rachel Hargis, who averages 4.3 points and 3.6 rebounds per contest, had a solid game against California scoring 10 points while grabbing five rebounds and blocking three shots. This was the second double-figure scoring game for Hargis, the other also served as her first career double-double netting 12 points and 11 rebounds against Texas Pan-American.
Freshman guard Jasmine Sborov has seen extended minutes over the last five games, scoring 14 of her 24 season points. She played a career-best 26 minutes off the bench against USC.
Colorado's bench has been outstanding, accounting for 32 percent of the team's scoring (20.5 ppg) and 40 percent of its rebounding (16.6 rpg). In addition to Reese, who came off the bench for the first 17 games, the Wilson twins and Kresl have been consistent in scoring whether coming off the bench or starting (Kresl has 12 starts, Brittany Wilson has eight while Ashley has four), combining for 27.5 points in a reserve role. Against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi the Buffaloes had a season-high 43 bench points (Jeffery 19, Reese 13, Kresl 11).
HISTORIC START: Colorado started the season 12-0 for just the third time in team history and first since the 1992-93 squad won a school record 15 games to begin the season. The 12-0 start ties for the second best start in school history. Here is a break down of CU's best starts:
Year Start Final Record Other
1992-93 15-0 27-4 NCAA Elite 8
2011-12 12-0 ?? Best Start Since 1992-93
1980-81 12-0 28-5 *AIAW National Tourn. First Round
1993-94 7-0 27-5 NCAA Sweet 16
1982-83 7-0 21-8 #Big Eight Semifinals
1988-89 6-0 27-4 NCAA First Round
*-CU's first national tournament appearance; #-First year of Big Eight Conference round-robin play.
NUMBERS ON 12 STRAIGHT: Colorado won 12 straight games for the seventh time and this season's streak is tied for the fifth longest in team history. It was also CU's longest win streak since its school-record 25-game streak in 1994-95. Here are the Buffs' all-time best win streaks:
Wins Season Record Notable
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 2011-12 ?? 12-0 Tied Second Best Season Start
12 1981-82 28-8 AIAW National 1st Round
12 1980-81 28-5 First of two 9-plus winning streaks in '81
8. 11 2007-08 19-15 WNIT Semifinalist
9. 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
ABOUT THE BEAVERS: Oregon State is 13-7 overall and tied with CU and Washington State for sixth place in the Pac-12 at 4-5. The Beavers have won two straight since losing five of seven to begin the conference slate. OSU averages 68.2 points per game while allowing only 58.1 to its opponents. One of the better shooting teams in the Pac-12, the Beavers rank second only to Stanford at 43.4 percent. On the defensive side, the Beavers rank second in blocked shots (6.0 bpg) and defensive rebounds (29.5 drpg) on the Pac-12 charts.
Freshman guard Ali Gibson leads Oregon State in scoring at 12.9 points per game. She is tied with CU's Chucky Jeffery for third in the Pac-12 at 2.5 steals per contest. Senior guard Earlysia Marchbanks is second on the team at 11.7 points per game and tops the squad in rebounding (6.8 rpg) and assists (3.6 apg). Junior forward Patricia Bright leads the Pac-12 in blocks at 3.5 per game while also averaging 9.7 points on 57.6 percent from the field.
SERIES RECORDS: This will be the third meeting between Colorado and Oregon State, with the Buffaloes winning both prior meetings. Entering the season, this and the Washington State series, were the least played of CU's new conference foes, both at two games. It will be Colorado's first game against OSU in Corvallis, as the other two games were played in Boulder, an 82-60 win on Dec. 7, 1987 and a 68-60 decision on Dec. 19, 1999. CU head coach Linda Lappe was on that 1999 team, but did not play against OSU due to an injury.
Lappe has never faced Oregon State as a head coach. OSU head coach Scott Rueck has never faced Colorado as a head coach.
CONNECTIONS: This weekend's trip will be a homecoming for freshman forward Jen Reese who was a two-time Gatorade Oregon Girls Basketball Player of the Year for Clackamas High School.
ROAD WARRIORS: Colorado has won seven of its last nine road games and also seven of its last nine away from home (both encompassing a slightly different set of games). Prior to the Washington game, the Buffaloes had won six-straight both in true road games and games away from Boulder, each being the program's best such streaks since the 2003-04 squad won six in a row in true road contests.
Additionally, Colorado has won five of its last seven conference road games after only winning four of the previous 30 dating back to the 2007-08 Big 12 season. CU has three conference road wins this season, its most since the 2003-04 NCAA Tournament squad won five league games away from Boulder.
Colorado began the Pac-12 season with three straight on the road finishing 2-1. It was CU's first three-game conference road stand since 1997, the inaugural season of the Big 12. In that string, the Buffaloes lost at Kansas State on Feb. 19, but bounced back to win games at Missouri on Feb. 23 and No. 12 ranked Texas on Feb. 26, sparking an eight-game win streak that carried Colorado through the first Big 12 Tournament Championship and an appearance in the 1997 NCAA Sweet 16.
Colorado returned home for California and Stanford after nearly a month away from home, spanning five games, which hadn't happened since the end of the 2001 season with a final regular season road game and then four neutral site Big 12 and NCAA Tournament games. The five away from home hadn't been done entirely in the regular season since the 1993-94 team played seven in a row away from Boulder in the late preseason (5) and early Big Eight Conference schedule (2).
THANKS BUFF FANS, KEEP COMING OUT!: Colorado had a season-high 5,885 fans witness the nail biting overtime loss to UCLA on Jan. 29. The attendance number is the second highest for a Pac-12 league game this season, trailing only the California at No. 4 ranked Stanford rivalry game played the night before which drew 6,075. Overall the UCLA-Colorado attendance figure is the third best at a Pac-12 venue this season. Stanford had 7,329 for a nonconference game against national power Tennessee on Dec. 20.
The Buffaloes are averaging 2,832 for 11 home dates this season and 3,958 in four Pac-12 home games, both figures trailing only Stanford (4,341 overall, 4,444 league) in the Pac-12. CU is on pace for its best home attendance average since the 2003-04 team drew 3,092 over 16 home games.
PERFORMANCE UNDER PRESSURE: Colorado has won seven straight games decided by five points or less, including a 4-0 mark this season. Five of those seven wins have come away from Boulder. The Buffaloes are 8-2 under Linda Lappe in games decided by five points or less.
...AND IN EVEN TIGHTER CIRCLES: Three of Colorado's four Pac-12 wins have been by one or two points, including back-to-back wins over Arizona (56-54) and USC (69-67). Colorado hadn't been involved in back-to-back one or two point games since the final two contests of the 2004-05 season when the Buffaloes beat Nebraska in the home finale, 78-76, and then fell to Iowa State, 64-62, in the first round of the Big 12 Championship, which was also Ceal Barry's last game as head coach. Colorado hadn't won back-to-back games with that little margin since the 1983-84 campaign, squeaking out road wins at Northern Arizona, 62-60, and at Wyoming, 57-56.
FOR OPENERS, CONFERENCE VERSION: Colorado improved to 22-16 in all-time in conference openers with its 58-52 win over Utah. The win snapped a three-game losing streak in road conference openers for the Buffaloes.
DEFENDING THE HOOP: Colorado allowed just 51.7 points in the 11 nonconference games, limiting the opponent to just 33.2 percent shooting overall (34.6 percent on two-point attempts and 29.7 from three-point range). The Buffaloes held five nonconference opponents under 50 points. CU has held its opponent under 50 points 11 times in CU head coach Linda Lappe's 54-game tenure.
REBOUNDING WOWS: Colorado has been even or outrebounded its opponent in 15 of 20 games, including 11 in a row prior to the Washington game. CU's margin of plus-6.4 on the season, ranks third in the Pac-12. CU had a big night on the glass against San Francisco, ending with a margin of plus-33 (53-20). That plus-33 margin overall is tied for the ninth best margin in team history and tied for the fourth best since the NCAA/Big Eight Conference era began with the 1982-83 season. It's also the widest margin since the Buffaloes put up a similar plus-33 margin against Bowling Green (59-26) on Nov. 23, 2001. Those two games are the best since CU outrebounded Northern Arizona by 34 (56-22) on Dec. 18, 1993.
Rebounding Margins Since 1982-83 Season
Team Date CUR OppR Margin
Northern Arizona 12/18/1993 56 22 +34
Oklahoma 2/18/1990 67 33 +34
Texas El-Paso 11/19/1982 67 33 +34
San Francisco 11/30/2011 53 20 +33
Bowling Green 11/23/2001 59 26 +33
at Colorado State 12/1/2007 58 26 +32
Northern Colorado 2/13/2006 53 22 +31
Colorado has grabbed 50 or more rebounds five times this season, including a high of 54 against Texas-Pan American. It's the most 50-plus rebound games for the Buffaloes since they had nine such outputs during the 1993-94 season.
On the other end of the spectrum, CU's 20 rebounds allowed to San Francisco tied for the second-lowest in team history. The Buffaloes held a team at 20 on three other occasions, most recently against Loyola Chicago in a 65-34 win on Nov. 27, 2010. The record low is 19, set against Northern Arizona on Feb. 7, 1981.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Chucky Jeffery earned Colorado's first ever Pac-12 Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Week honor on Dec. 4. Her award was the fourth overall for the Buffaloes in their inaugural Pac-12 season, joining three football winners from earlier this fall. The league Player of the Week honor is also the first for women's basketball since Brittany Spears was named Big 12 Conference Player of the Week on Nov. 23, 2009. For Jeffery, it's her second similar honor, as she was the Big 12 Freshman of the Week winner on Jan. 11, 2010.
Jeffery averaged 28 points and 11 rebounds while shooting 64.5 percent from the floor, leading the Buffaloes to wins over San Francisco (84-66) and Idaho (68-59).
CHUCKY DOUBLES: Chucky Jeffery has five double-doubles on the season, tied for ninth in the Pac-12, including a string of three-straight (Wisconsin-San Francisco-Idaho). It was the first time a CU player had double-doubles in three-straight games since Jackie McFarland had two separate strings of three during the 2006-07 season. She joins Bridget Turner as the only other guard in team history with three-straight double-doubles. Turner pulled the trifecta during the 1988-89 season, with one of her doubles the points-assists variety.
Overall she is the seventh player to achieve three straight double-doubles. CU Athletic Hall of Famer Lisa Van Goor holds the consecutive mark of six during the 1980-81 season.
LEXY AMONG ELITE COMPANY: Freshman guard Lexy Kresl scored in double-digits in the first six games of her career, tying CU Athletic Hall of Fame member and All-American Shelley Sheetz for the second-most in team history. Current CU Director of Basketball Operations Tracy Tripp holds the mark of 10, set during the 1985-86 season.
CHUCKY REBOUNDS: Junior guard Chucky Jeffery became the 20th player in team history to reach 500 rebounds in the win over Washington State and now sits at 537, 18th on CU's all-time list. She has a career average of 6.8 per game which jumps to 7.7 since the beginning of her sophomore year (50 games). She had a career night on the glass at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, grabbing 16 rebounds in the win over the Islanders. Her 16 rebounds were the most by a CU player since Jackie McFarland recorded 18 at Kansas on Feb. 6, 2007.
LEXY'S RECORD NIGHT: Freshman guard Lexy Kresl had a memorable collegiate debut making 5-of-6 3-point attempts in the first half of CU's 84-60 win over Northern Arizona. She tied a school record for 3-pointers made in one half, a feat that had happened five previous times by three players. Bianca Smith, who was the last person to hit five in one half (vs. Nebraska on Jan. 31, 2009), did it three times. Kate Fagan and CU Athletic Hall of Famer and All-American Shelly Sheetz are the other two.
STEALING THE SHOW: Colorado recorded 16 steals against Northern Arizona in the season opener, its most in a single game since swiping 18 against Texas Southern on Dec. 14, 2007. It's just the third time since the 2003-04 season that the Buffaloes have had 16 or more steals in one contest (16 vs. Pacific on Dec. 8, 2005).
Seven different Buffaloes registered steals against Northern Arizona, led by sophomore Brittany Wilson who had a career high with five. Freshmen Jasmine Sborov and Jen Reese each had three in their collegiate debuts.
MALCOLM-PECK CLIMBING IN 3-POINTERS, BLOCKS: Junior Meagan Malcolm-Peck is tied with Sabrina Scott (1999-03) for 12th on CU's all-time list for 3-pointers with 74. She is tied with Patty Slighter (1981-85) for 13th in career blocked shots with 62.
JEFFERY MOVING UP CAREER LADDERS, 1,000 POINTS ON THE HORIZON: Junior guard Chucky Jeffery tied her own team season-high with six steals against UCLA and ranks 10th on CU's all-time list with 183. She has 30 career games of three or more steals, including nine this season.
In addition she is 15th in assists (306), 16th in blocks (52) and 18th in rebounds (537).
Jeffery has 986 career points, needing just 14 to become the 24th player in team history to reach 1,000. She would be just the 10th player to reach that milestone before her senior year.
BUFFS ON TV: Colorado's regular season schedule features nine regionally or nationally televised games. CU made its first appearance on The Mtn in the win over Colorado State on Nov. 20. Colorado will have eight games air on ROOT Sports Rocky Mountain. The first was the San Francisco game on Nov. 30, followed by Idaho (Dec. 4), Denver (Dec. 8), Stanford (Jan. 14). at Arizona (Jan. 22) and UCLA (Jan. 29). Also scheduled for ROOT Sports are Utah (Feb. 18) and Oregon (Mar. 1). All ROOT Sports Rocky Mountain games are available nationally on DIRECTV and DISH Network.
The games with Arizona and UCLA were part of the Pac-12's FSN national package. CU has appeared on 91 regional or national telecasts over the last 10 seasons.