BOULDER — Jackie McFarland scored 21 points, Brittany Spears matched her career high with 19 and Colorado upset No. 21 Wyoming 69-55 on Wednesday night.
Colorado (5-2) went on a 12-0 run to pull away late in the second half, and then held on to snap a 23-game losing streak against ranked opponents. Colorado was coming off an 82-47 win Saturday over Colorado State.
“Tonight’s game came at a very pivotal time for us,” Colorado coach Kathy McConnell-Miller said. “I thought we were coming off the strongest performance of the year, and to host a very good nationally ranked Wyoming team with such experience … I thought the players really, really took advantage of it.”
Colorado, then ranked No. 14, last defeated a ranked opponent on Jan. 7, 2004 — a 69-59 win over then-No. 24 Baylor. In ending that streak, the Buffs prevented Wyoming (6-1) from its first 7-0 start in nearly 30 years.
“It’s a huge game for us for a lot of reasons,” said McFarland, who scored 15 points after halftime, including eight in the final four minutes. “I think it just shows where this program is going. It’s a sign that we’re definitely moving up.”
Wyoming was off to its best start since going 8-0 to open the 1978-79 season. Colorado also handed the Cowgirls their first loss that season, too, 81-66.
Creighton 68, Denver 64
* Denver got within two points with 15 seconds remaining despite 25 turnovers, but Creighton’s Ally Thrall made two of three free throws in the final 20 seconds to give the Bluejays a victory.
Air Force 56, Northern Colorado 53
GREELEY — Alecia Steele led Air Force with 22 points and the Falcons defeated Northern Colorado in UNC’s first game without coach Jaime White, who took a medical leave of absence Wednesday.
