Boulder – After watching the Colorado women’s basketball team compile a mediocre 6-6 nonconference record, CU coach Kathy McConnell-Miller told her team to think of the Big 12 schedule as a new season.
Is it ever.
As if somehow flicking on a switch, Colorado is playing like a different team with far more confidence. And even some moxie. The Buffaloes swished 3-pointers from everywhere Wednesday night and trounced Iowa State 81-67 at the Coors Events Center. CU (8-6) is 2-0 in league play for the first time since 1996-97, the league’s inaugural season, when the Buffs started 3-0.
Last year, CU won three conference games in McConnell-Miller’s first season as the Buffs’ coach.
“We were excited for a fresh start (in league play), and we’ve come out with a bang,” said CU junior forward Jackie McFarland, who notched game-highs of 22 points, 14 rebounds and six assists.
Perennial Big 12 power Iowa State (13-3, 1-2) entered the game ranked No. 1 in the conference in 3-pointers per game (7.73). But in a role reversal, it was Colorado that came out firing. The Buffs set a school record for 3-pointers in a half with 10 and finished with 13-of-23.
Iowa State almost dared the Buffs to shoot over a 3-2 zone. Colorado never hesitated.
“We were feeling it,” said Buffs junior guard Susie Powers, who hit 4-for-5 from beyond the 3-point arc.
Colorado scored more than 80 points in a Big 12 game for the first time since 2002 and snapped a five-game losing streak to the Cyclones. CU finished the first half with a 20-2 run to take a stunning 48-24 lead.
The first 15 points scored by the Buffs came on five 3-pointers. That included two by Powers, a transfer from Notre Dame who recorded all of her career-best 12 points in the first half.
CU freshman guard Bianca Smith scored 15 or her career-best 18 points in the first half, getting four 3-pointers and finishing with five.
“If we had an open shot, we were going to take it,” Smith said.
“You have to win at home in this conference,” McConnell-Miller said.
IOWA STATE (13-3, 1-2 BIG 12)
Wieben 4-9 6-6 14, Ronhovde 6-9 3-3 20, Ross 1-6 1-2 3, Medders 1-10 3-4 5, Ezell 1-3 0-0 3, Pierson 1-5 3-4 5, Lacey 4-5 2-2 10, Florzak 0-1 0-0 0, Lightbourne 0-0 0-0 0, Bjerke 1-1 0-0 2, Mosman 1-1 0-0 3, Nisleit 1-2 0-0 2, Reinert 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-52 18-21 67.
COLORADO (8-6, 2-0)
Ilic 1-9 6-6 8, McFarland 7-9 5-6 22, Richards 6-7 2-2 14, Smith 6-13 1-1 18, Powers 4-5 0-0 12, Houston 1-3 0-0 3, Skildum 0-1 0-0 0, Nedovic 0-0 2-2 2, Rucker 1-4 0-2 2, Putnina 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-51 16-19 81.
Halftime – Colorado 48-24. 3-point goals – Iowa St. 7-17 (Ronhovde 5-6, Mosman 1-1, Ezell 1-2, Wieben 0-1, Ross 0-1, Lacey 0-1, Florzak 0-1, Medders 0-4), Colorado 13-23 (Smith 5-10, Powers 4-5, McFarland 3-3, Houston 1-2, Ilic 0-3). Fouled out – Wieben, Ronhovde, Powers. Rebounds – Iowa St. 28 (Wieben, Medders 6), Colorado 30 (McFarland 14). Assists – Iowa St. 13 (Medders 4), Colorado 18 (McFarland 6). Total fouls – Iowa St. 21, Colorado 23. A – 1,142.
Staff writer Tom Kensler can be reached at 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com.
