Buffs Face Old Big-12 Rival Oklahoma State In WNIT
THE GAME: The University of Colorado visits old conference rival Oklahoma State University in a 2012 Postseason WNIT quarterfinal game on Sunday, March 25, at 11:30 a.m. MDT at the Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Okla.
BROADCAST: Sunday's WNIT game will be broadcast live on KKZN AM 760 with Mike Rice delivering the play by play. Live internet audio of all CU basketball games is available on BuffsRadio, a free subscription service through CUBuffs.com.
POSTSEASON FACTS: Colorado is in postseason play for the 20th time in team history with an overall record of 32-19. The Buffs played in four AIAW Tournaments from 1979-82 (5-4) and have made 12 NCAA Tournament Appearances (17-12).
- Colorado makes back-to-back postseason appearances for the first time since advancing to four straight NCAA Tournaments from 2001 to '04.
- This is Colorado's fourth trip to the postseason WNIT, and first back-to-back appearance, with an overall record of 10-3. The Buffaloes also participated in the 1999 event (1-1), reached the 2008 semifinals (3-1) and 2011 quarterfinals (3-1).
- CU is 3-6 all-time on an opponent's home court in the postseason (AIAW, NCAA) and has won the last two, including a 64-55 win at South Dakota in second round action. The Buffaloes first ever NCAA Tournament win was the first road triumph, at Eastern Illinois (78-72) on March 16, 1988.
- This will be the first time Colorado has played multiple games on an opponent's home court during the postseason.
- CU is 22-6 all-time at home in postseason (12-3 NCAA, 8-3 WNIT, 2-0 AIAW) and has won 10 of its last 12.
- Colorado has won at least three games in three of four WNIT appearances, advancing to at least the quarterfinal round in the last three (2008, '11, & '12).
- Lappe is in her fourth WNIT as a coach, and second as a head coach. She was on the Drake staff that went to WNIT's in 2004 and '06.
- Lappe was a true freshman on CU's 1999 WNIT team
- CU assistant coach Jennie Baranczyk was an assistant on the Marquette team that defeated Colorado in the 2008 WNIT semifinals, eventually winning the tournament title.
COLORADO IN THE WNIT
1999 (1-1)
First Round: at Colorado 70, BYU 53
Second Round: Drake 82, at Colorado 66
2008 (3-1)
First Round: BYE
Second Round: at Colorado 82, Gonzaga 68
Third Round: at Colorado 64, Villanova 58
Quarterfinals: at Colorado 96, TCU 90 (OT)
Semifinals: Marquette 86, at Colorado 72
2011 (3-1)
First Round: at Colorado 71, UC Riverside 62
Second Round: at Colorado 81, California 65
Third Round: Colorado 70, at Wyoming 58
Quarterfinals: USC 87, Colorado 70
2012 (3-0)
First Round: at Colorado 54, Northern Colorado 42
Second Round: Colorado 64, at South Dakota 55
Third Round: at Colorado 48, Villanova 47
ABOUT THE BUFFALOES: Colorado is 21-13 overall after edging Villanova, 48-47, in the third round of the WNIT on March 22. The Buffaloes finished their first season in the Pac-12 Conference in 10th place at 6-12. Colorado was 1-1 at the 2012 Pacific-Life Pac-12 Tournament, picking up its first conference tournament win since 2007. The No. 10 seeded Buffaloes pulled off a 55-41 win over No. 7 Utah on March 7 before falling to tournament finalist, and No. 2 seed, California, 68-59, on March 8 in the quarterfinals. Colorado snapped a five-game losing streak by defeating Oregon State 67-57 in the regular season finale on March 3. After enduring a rough stretch that saw the Buffaloes lose eight of nine, CU has won three straight, five of its last six and has its first 20-win season since 2003-04 (22-8).
The Buffaloes will be playing their 35th game of the season, tying for the second most in team history (26-9 in 1995-96). The 1981-82 team played 36 games (28-8).
Colorado has shown balance with five players averaging between seven and 16 points per game. Overall the Buffaloes are averaging 60.4 points per game and shooting 39.6 percent from the field. The Buffaloes rank third in the Pac-12 in rebounding defense (34.3) and rebounding margin (+6.0), fourth in scoring defense (57.8 ppg) and fifth in offensive rebounds (13.6 orpg). Colorado is on pace for the second-best field-goal percentage defense (.368), fourth-best scoring defense and rebounding margin and eighth-best rebounding average (40.2 rpg) in team history.
Junior guard Chucky Jeffery leads the Buffaloes at 15.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. She is prominent on the Pac-12 leader board, ranking fourth in steals (2.4 spg), fifth in defensive rebounds (6.1 drpg), sixth in assists and scoring, eighth in overall rebounding, 12th in assist-to-turnover ratio (0.8) and field-goal percentage (.447) and 14th free-throw percentage (.680).
Jeffery has scored in double-figures in 29 of Colorado's 34 games and has reached the 20-point mark on eight occasions. She has a team-best nine double-doubles on the season, eighth in the Pac-12, including a 19-point, 17-rebound performance in the third round WNIT win over Villanova. During WNIT play she is averaging 17 points, and 11.7 rebounds on 48 percent from the field. She has led or shared the team lead in scoring in 21 contests this season. Jeffery 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 in field goal accuracy at 48.4 percent while also averaging 7.0 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. She had a memorable senior night, recording her fourth career double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds against Oregon State. Seabrook, who ranked seventh in the Pac-12 in field-goal percentage during conference games (.474) has shot 50 percent or better in 21 of 34 games, 10 of 18 in league play. She made 81 percent from the line (25-of-31) during conference play.
Sophomore guard Brittany Wilson is second on the team in assists (62), steals (46) and 3-point field goals (40) and third in scoring at 8.9 points per contest. She was Colorado's leading scorer at the Pac-12 Tournament (19.5 ppg) and is averaging 13.6 points on 45 percent shooting over the last five games. Brittany's twin sister Ashley Wilson is hitting 64 percent (7-of-11) during that same span averaging 4.4 points and 3.2 rebounds since the end of the regular season.
Freshman guard Lexy Kresl averages 9.0 points per game and leads the Buffaloes in both 3-point field goals (60) and free-throw accuracy at 90 percent. Kresl scored nine points -- all in the second half -- at South Dakota including four clutch free throws in the final minute to put the game on ice. On the Pac-12 charts she ranks fifth in 3-pointers made (1.8 3mpg), 13th in 3-point percentage (.316) and 27th in scoring.
Junior forward Meagan Malcolm-Peck is averaging 4.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. She is second on the team in offensive rebounds (62), third in assists (41) and fourth in 3-point field goals (18). Sophomore Rachel Hargis, who averages 3.8 points and 3.2 rebounds per contest, is second on the team in blocked shots with 25 and her 0.8 per game average during conference only contests ranks 14th in the Pac-12.
Freshman guard Jasmine Sborov has seen extended minutes the second half of the season and has started the last eight games. She is averaging 4.0 points and 3.8 rebounds since the end of the regular season. She pitched in eight points - on 4-of-6 shooting - and five rebounds in the win over South Dakota.
ALL PAC-12: Junior guard Chucky Jeffery made it 2-for-2 in All-Pac-12 Conference honors as she was named to both the coach's and media teams. In addition, Jeffery was named to the Pac-12 All-Defensive team voted on by league coaches, while CU's freshman duo of Lexy Kresl and Jen Reese received honorable mention to the All-Freshman squad.
Jeffery becomes Colorado's first All-Pac-12 women's basketball player capping off the Buffaloes first year in their new conference. She is the 13th different CU women's basketball player to be recognized on a league's all-conference first team (Intermountain, Big Eight and Big 12) and it's the program's 19th such mention overall. CU had five first-team All-Big 12 Conference awards in 15 seasons.
Jeffery's defensive team honor is the first for the program in any conference. Her steals per game average rose to 2.7 during conference only games, ranking third in the Pac-12. She had eight games with four or more steals and topped six steals on three occasions. Jeffery's 80 steals this season rank seventh on CU's single-season list.
Kresl and Reese have played pivotal roles in Colorado's success this season. Kresl, who was named to the media's Pac-12 All-Freshman team, is second in 3-point field goals (60) and fifth in scoring among freshmen. Reese averaged 7.8 points and 6.0 rebounds in 25 games before a season-ending eye injury. She leads all freshmen in rebounding average had the second-best rookie field-goal percentage in the Pac-12 (.449).
ABOUT THE COWGIRLS: Oklahoma State is 19-12 overall and tied for sixth in the Big 12 Conference at 8-10. The Cowgirls have won six of their last seven with the lone loss coming to Missouri in the first round of the Big 12 Championship. Oklahoma State averages 65.4 points per game on 39 percent from the field. Defensively, the Cowgirls rank second in the Big 12 in opponent field-goal percentage (.347).
Big 12 Freshman of the Year Liz Donohoe, a 6-foot forward, leads Oklahoma State at 12.6 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. She also tops the Cowgirls in 3-point field goals (48) and free-throw percentage (.857). Sophomore guard Tiffany Bias leads the Cowgirls and ranks second in the Big 12 in assists at 6.6 per game. She sits right behind Donohoe in scoring at 12.5 an outing. Junior forward Toni Young tops OSU in field-goal percentage (.496) while averaging 10.9 points and 6.9 rebounds per game.
SERIES RECORDS: This will be the 52nd meeting between Colorado and Oklahoma State with the Buffaloes holding a slim 26-25 series lead. Colorado faces a former Big 12 Conference rival for the first time since joining the Pac-12 this last summer. The Cowgirls have claimed the last five and six of the last seven, including a 58-49 decision on Jan. 18, 2011 in the final league meeting between the two schools. Oklahoma State leads the series 13-9 in Stillwater and has won the last four at Gallagher-Iba Arena. CU's last win at Oklahoma State was a 64-50 decision on Jan. 22, 2003.
LEXY FROM '3': Guard Lexy Kresl increased her freshman 3-point season record to 60 with one against Villanova. Overall, it's the 12th time a CU player has reached 60 3-pointers in a season and she is just the seventh different player to reach that mark. She initially set the freshman record in the WNIT win over Northern Colorado passing Brittany Spears (2007-08) and Shelley Sheetz (1991-92) who each had 57 in their rookie seasons. Kresl is already 16th in career 3-point field goals and her total is also 12th on CU's single-season list.
In the regular season finale against Oregon State she scored a career high 20 points on a career best 6-of-7 from beyond the arc. Kresl's 85.7% from beyond the arc against the Beavers is good for the best single-game 3-point field goal percentage in the Pac-12 this season.
CHUCKY REACHES 1,000: Junior guard Chucky Jeffery became the 24th player in team history to reach 1,000 career points during the loss at Oregon. She is the 10th player to achieve 1,000 before her senior year. Surpassing 1,000 in her 81st career game, she tied Tera Bjorklund (2000-04) for the ninth fastest to reach 1,000. Currently with 1,206 points, Jeffery is 18th on CU's all-time scoring list.
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 was the third highest for a Pac-12 league game this season, trailing only the California-Stanford rivalry games which drew 6,075 at Stanford and a conference season-best 7,864 in Berkeley on March 4. Overall the UCLA-Colorado attendance figure was the fourth 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 2,679 for 18 home dates this season and 3,346 in nine Pac-12 home games, both figures trailing only Stanford (4,250 overall, 4,345 league). CU is on pace for its best home attendance average since the 2003-04 team drew 3,092 over 16 home games.
ROAD WARRIORS: Colorado has won eight of its last 14 road games and also nine of its last 16 away from home. The Buffaloes are
6-6 on the road this year and 9-7 overall away from Boulder. CU's six road wins are its most since 2003-04 (7) and its nine wins away from home are the most since 2002-03 (11). 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 11 conference road games after only winning four of the previous 30 dating back to the 2007-08 Big 12 season. CU had 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).
ON THE ROAD, WNIT STYLE: On Colorado's side of the WNIT bracket, the home team is 24-4, but the Buffaloes own one of those victories, coming in the second round against South Dakota. A little more road love can be seen on the other side of the bracket as the home team was 18-10 through three rounds. Syracuse has won all three of its games on the road to reach the quarterfinals. VCU and Appalachian State had won two road games before bowing out in the third round.
REBOUNDING WOWS: Colorado has been even or outrebounded its opponent in 25 of 34 games, including 11 in a row prior to the Washington game. CU's margin of plus-6.0 on the season, ranks third in the Pac-12.
The Buffaloes outrebounded South Dakota 47-25 in their second round WNIT win. Led by Chucky Jeffery's 10, all five starters had at least five rebounds in the contest. For good measure, sophomore Rachel Hargis came off the bench and grabbed seven boards. In the last five games, Colorado has held a plus-10.6 rebounding margin over its opponents (41.6 rpg to 31.0 rpg) and all eight players in the primary rotation are averaging at least three rebounds.
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.
PERFORMANCE UNDER PRESSURE: Colorado improved to 5-3 this season in games decided by five points or less with its 48-47 WNIT win over Villanova. The Buffaloes are 9-5 under Linda Lappe in games decided by five points or less.
...AND IN EVEN TIGHTER CIRCLES: Three of Colorado's six Pac-12 wins were 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.
CHUCKY REBOUNDS: Junior guard Chucky Jeffery became the 14th player in team history to reach 600 rebounds in the win over Utah and now sits at 655, 12th on CU's all-time list. She has a career average of 7.0 per game which jumps to 7.9 since the beginning of her sophomore year (64 games). She has three games this year with at least 14 rebounds and set a career and team season high with 17 in the WNIT win over Villanova. Her 17 rebounds were the most by a CU player since Jackie McFarland recorded 18 at Kansas on Feb. 6, 2007 and the third most all-time in CU postseason play.
Most Rebounds In Postseason Action:
19GÇöErin Scholz vs. (Southwest) Missouri State, Mar. 18, 1995 (NCAA Second Round)
18GÇöGail Hook vs. Weber State, Mar. 14, 1982 (AIAW Region VII Championship)
17GÇöChucky Jeffery vs. Villanova, Mar. 22, 2012 (WNIT Third Round)
MALCOLM-PECK CLIMBING IN 3-POINTERS, BLOCKS: Junior Meagan Malcolm-Peck drilled her 78th career 3-pointer in the Oregon game, ranking 12th on CU's all-time list. She is also 12th in blocked shots with 66.
JEFFERY MOVING UP CAREER LADDERS: Junior guard Chucky Jeffery ranks among Colorado's all-time leaders in several categories. She is ninth in steals (214) and assists (348), 12th in rebounds (655), 16th in blocks (57), 17th in field-goals made (451), 18th in scoring (1,206) and 20th in 3-point field goals made (50).