Boulder – The Colorado women’s basketball team ruled the boards – rebounds and, in the end, the scoreboard – as the Coors Events Center magic continued Saturday night with the Buffs’ 70-67 win over Texas Tech.
Earlier, the Colorado women handed out pizzas to the student section after being introduced during a timeout of the 89-77 upset victory by the CU men over 12th-ranked Oklahoma State. Five hours later, it was the women’s turn to celebrate with their second straight Big 12 Conference victory at home.
“This team continues to make strides and I thought tonight was another one,” CU coach Kathy McConnell- Miller said.
Colorado (10-11, 4-5 Big 12) got 27 points from senior forward Jasmina Ilic and dominated underneath against a talented Lady Raiders team (14-9, 5-4) that took reigning league champion Oklahoma to double overtime two weeks ago in Norman, Okla., before falling 86-81.
CU snared 23 offensive rebounds. That’s the most for the program since Nov. 23, 2001, when the Buffs recorded 23 against Bowling Green. It’s the most in a conference game since 24 against Iowa State in 1996.
CU had only 20 total offensive rebounds to show for the previous three games combined, including four Wednesday in a win over Kansas State. Not surprisingly, McConnell-Miller made it a priority in practice later in the week.
“Four against K-State was a wake-up call,” Jackie McFarland said.
CU’s determined effort on the boards led to 22 second- chance points. Texas Tech finished with five.
“Give (Colorado) credit, they found a way down the stretch,” first-year Lady Raiders coach Kristy Curry said. “But the physicality of the game was amazing.”
Curry argued with officials after an intentional foul was called on Patrice Edwards with 2:49 remaining after CU’s Hannah Skildum was hacked into the goal support while attempting a layup.
But Skildum’s two free throws only tied the score at 62.
McFarland put the Buffs ahead 68-67 on a bank shot from the lane with 1:06 to play. After an airball jumper by Texas Tech senior Brooke Baughman, CU missed a shot but got the rebound. That led to two free throws by Ilic with 11.8 seconds remaining to clinch the Buffs’ win.
Ilic, from Serbia, became the 24th player in CU history to reach 1,000 points on a layup with 10:10 remaining.
The Buffs snapped a four- game losing streak to the Lady Raiders.
TEXAS TECH (14-9, 5-4 BIG 12)
Robertson 7-17 5-6 21, Murphree 5-7 1-2 11, Christian 4-8 0-0 10, Edwards 3-4 2-4 8, Myrick 3-6 0-0 6, Baughman 2-7 1-1 6, Henderson 2-4 1-1 5, Griffin 0-0 0-0 0, Flowers 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-53 10-14 67.
COLORADO (10-11, 4-5)
Ilic 9-16 4-4 27, McFarland 4-8 2-5 10, Skildum 3-6 2-3 8, Smith 3-9 0-0 7, Richards 1-4 2-4 4, Dow 2-5 0-2 4, Powers 2-3 0-0 4, Rucker 1-2 0-0 2, Houston 1-8 0-2 2, Putnina 0-4 2-2 2, Nedovic 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 26-66 12-22 70.
Halftime – Texas Tech 34-32. 3-point goals – Texas Tech 5-15 (Robertson 2-5, Christian 2-4, Baughman 1-5, Murphree 0-1); Colorado 6-17 (Ilic 5-10, Smith 1-3, Dow 0-1, Houston 0-1, Putnina 0-1, Nedovic 0-1). Fouled out – None. Rebounds – Texas Tech 34 (Robertson 9), Colorado 43 (McFarland 9). Assists – Texas Tech 14 (Baughman 4), Colorado 14 (McFarland 5). Total fouls – Texas Tech 18, Colorado 16.
A – 1,812.
Tom Kensler can be reached at 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com.
