Boulder – Colorado women’s basketball coach Kathy McConnell-Miller believes her post tandem of 6-foot-3 junior Jackie McFarland and 6-4 sophomore Kara Richards rates among the best in the Big 12 Conference.
In Wednesday night’s league opener, the inside pair did nothing to disappoint.
McFarland and Richards patrolled the paint as if they had picked out its color. Both notched double-doubles in Colorado’s 71-59 victory over Missouri at the Coors Events Center.
“Colorado’s size was really a factor,” Missouri coach Cindy Stein said.
McFarland finished with a game-high 18 points and 11 rebounds, getting the 27th double-double of her career. Richards, playing in only her second game after missing the previous seven with a foot fracture, celebrated her first career double-double with 11 points and game-high 13 rebounds.
“Kara played with a lot of confidence,” McFarland said, “and they couldn’t double down on either of us. (Missouri) had to play ‘honest’ defense.”
Colorado (7-6, 1-0 Big 12) trailed by as many as 10 points in the first half and 31-29 at halftime. But the Buffs opened the second half with a 24-7 run.
CU won its Big 12 opener for the first time since beginning the 2003-04 season with a victory at Baylor.
The 12-point victory margin is the largest for the Buffs in a Big 12 opener.
Missouri (12-2, 0-1) entered the game having lost only at then-No. 11 Stanford. The Tigers were riding a nine-game winning streak but missed 17 consecutive shots from the field during a stretch in the second half.
CU players cited maintaining their composure as a key.
“In practice, we had been talking a lot about finishing games,” Richards said.
An mid-range jumper by Jasmina Ilic and Whitney Houston’s third driving layup of the second half stretched CU’s lead to 53-37. The Tigers regrouped and pulled to within 63-57. But their late rally came too late. CU freshman guard Candace Rucker leaped for a strong rebound in the paint with 1:08 remaining and was fouled. She converted two free throws to make it 65-57 and take the fight out of the Tigers.
“Maybe we haven’t sent a shock wave (through the Big 12) yet,” McFarland said. “But we’ve said all along that we’re a better team than what we’ve shown.”
MISSOURI (12-2, 0-1 BIG 12)
Brooks 6-14 2-3 14, Savant 3-12 5-6 14, Riddle 5-15 3-4 13, Hollins 2-11 1-2 7, Hardiek 2-3 2-2 7, Campbell 0-1 0-0 0, Johnson 0-0 0-0 0, Richbow 1-2 0-0 2, Drew 0-2 0-0 0, Jackson 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 20-63 13-17 59.
COLORADO (7-6, 1-0 BIG 12)
Ilic 5-13 3-5 15, McFarland 5-7 8-10 18, Richards 5-5 1-2 11, Smith 1-2 0-0 3, Powers 3-5 0-0 7, Houston 5-9 1-2 11, Skildum 1-1 0-0 2, Rucker 0-3 4-4 4, Putnina 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-45 17-23 71.
Halftime – Missouri 31-29. 3-point goals – Missouri 6-16 (Savant 3-5, Hollins 2-6, Hardiek 1-2, Campbell 0-1, Drew 0-2), Colorado 4-8 (Ilic 2-6, Smith 1-1, Powers 1-1). Fouled out – None. Rebounds – Missouri 29 (Savant 8), Colorado 40 (Richards 13). Assists – Missouri 14 (Savant, Hollins 3), Colorado 16 (Ilic, Richards 4). Total fouls – Missouri 20, Colorado 18. A – 2,204.
Tom Kensler can be reached at 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com.
