Colorado
10-7, 1-3
Oklahoma State
13-4, 1-3
Cowgirl Defense Too Much As Buffs Fall 58-49
January 18, 2011 | Women's Basketball
STILLWATER, Okla. – Brittany Spears scored a game-high 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds, but cold shooting down the stretch doomed the Buffaloes as Oklahoma State claimed a 58-49 Big 12 Conference win Tuesday evening at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
Facing the second-best scoring defense and field-goal percentage defense team in the Big 12, Oklahoma State (13-4, 1-3 Big 12) held the Buffaloes to a season-low 49 points and just 32 percent from the field.
"We're leaving here disappointed in the loss tonight," said head coach Linda Lappe. "It's back to work for us."
Colorado (10-7, 1-3 Big 12) never led, but despite the cold shooting night the Buffaloes kept it close throughout. CU trailed by 10 with 12:09 left in the game, but fought back to get within 47-46 on a Brittany Wilson 3-pointer with 7:22 remaining.
Three free throws, two by Spears and one by Wilson were all the Buffaloes could manage the rest of the way as the Cowgirls closed on an 11-3 run. Colorado missed its final 13 shots from the field.
CU played its second straight game without starting point guard Chucky Jeffery, who suffered a concussion in the loss to Kansas. She remains listed as day-to-day.
“With the inexperience we have, I don't think we were on the same page,” Meagan Malcolm-Peck said. “We were rushed offensively and not sure what to do with that. Although, I think we did a pretty good job without Chucky leading the offense.”
Wilson finished with 11 points. Malcolm-Peck, still nursing a sore ankle of her own, came off the bench to pitch in nine points and five rebounds.
Oklahoma State opened the game with seven straight points, before a 3-pointer by Chelsea Dale and a Julie Seabrook layup cut the lead to 7-5.
Shortly after, Seabrook picked up her second foul and the Cowgirls took advantage with 6-foot-6 freshman center Vicky McIntyre scoring six straight points as OSU led 13-5. OSU took its biggest lead of the half when Jenni Bryan connected on a 3-pointer to put the Cowgirls up 19-10 with 7:38 remaining.
Colorado struggled to get into its offense early. The Buffaloes had few shots inside and had 11 first half turnovers, eight of which came in the first 12 minutes.
Malcolm-Peck ignited the Buffaloes off the bench. She scored seven points during a 10-2 run which cut the deficit to 21-20.
After the under 4-minute timeout, Lakyn Garrison answered with her second 3-pointer of the half, sparking an 8-0 Cowgirls run. Wilson gave the Buffaloes a little momentum heading into the half with a steal and coast-to-coast layup as CU trailed 29-22 at the break.
Spears shrugged off her third foul picked up in the opening seconds of the second half by scoring CU's next 10 points. She hit two straight 3-pointers and had a steal, was fouled and hit the ensuing free throws as OSU led 34-32 with 15:43 left.
The Buffaloes then tied the game at 34-34 on a Seabrook layup off a nice dish from Dale.
Oklahoma State responded with a 12-2 run to take its largest lead of the game at 46-36. Back then came the Buffaloes, who answered with a 10-1 run, culminated with Wilson's 3-pointer, but CU wouldn't draw any closer.
“Spears and I got the rebounds and shot it up there, but there's no point in getting the offensive rebounds if you're not going to make the shots,” saidMeagan Malcolm-Peck. “We're disappointed that we let up the last four minutes."
McIntyre finished with 14 points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots. Toni Young had 10 points and six boards.
Colorado returns home to host the University of Missouri on Saturday, Jan. 22, at 4 p.m. at the Coors Events Center.
