BOULDER — So close to beginning Big 12 play undefeated after three games, the 25th-ranked Colorado women’s basketball team instead dropped its second straight heartbreaker at home and discovered how close the margin between fun and frustration can be.
Especially in a conference as tough as this.
The 72-68 loss to No. 19 Texas A&M on Wednesday night, coupled with falling in double overtime to Iowa State three days earlier, leaves the Buffaloes (12-4, 1-2 Big 12) looking up in the standings at the league’s top teams.
Colorado had the Aggies down by nine points with 10 minutes remaining but couldn’t hold on. On Sunday, CU led Iowa State by as many as 12 points.
“We have to learn to play with the lead,” CU coach Kathy McConnell-Miller said. “We had two great basketball teams down, on our home court, and we didn’t get it done.
“I think it’s a sign of immaturity . . . having to have constantly played from behind the last two years. It’s frustrating.”
Texas A&M (13-4, 1-2) finally caught up and pulled ahead with 4:23 left, when a 3-pointer from the top of the key by junior guard Takia Starks put the visitors ahead 58-57.
Pint-sized point guard A’Quonesia Franklin, displaying the composure that made her an all-conference player, converted six straight free throws in the final 21 seconds to keep the Aggies in command.
Texas A&M, co-Big 12 champion in 2007, is the quickest and most athletic team in the conference. The Aggies were made the preseason pick to win the title this year in a vote of the league’s coaches, but looked for much of the game like they might start out 0-3, following losses to Kansas State and Baylor.
“We had our backs to the wall,” Aggies coach Gary Blair said. “To have not played our best and come out of here with a win, that’s beautiful.”
Colorado had chances to at least tie the game when Texas A&M missed two front ends of one-and-one free throw opportunities in the final 28 seconds. But in both cases CU couldn’t get to the rebound.
McConnell-Miller said her team handled Texas A&M’s quickness and full-court pressure for the most part, though the Aggies scored 17 points off 18 turnovers by Colorado.
CU got 24 points from senior forward Jackie McFarland. But the Buffs missed 13-of-36 foul shots, after entering the game as the top free-throw shooting team (.746) in the Big 12.
Colorado hit just 3-for-16 from beyond the 3-point line.
“We are fighters, but we don’t have the killer instinct when we have the lead,” McFarland said. “It’s weird. We seem to take a step back and wait for the other team to die. They don’t do that.”
Texas A&M trailed 32-28 at halftime, but junior forward Danielle Gant scored 18 of her 24 points in the second half to spark the comeback.
TEXAS A&M (13-4)
Reado 2-8 1-2 5, Micheaux 0-1 1-2 1, Starks 8-22 0-0 18, Franklin 3-7 6-6 14, Gant 11-17 2-3 24, Buchanan 1-3 0-0 2, Gulley 0-0 0-0 0, Baker 0-0 0-0 0, Atunrase 1-7 1-3 3, Horton 1-3 0-0 2, Limbaha 0-0 0-0 0, Colson 1-3 1-2 3. Totals 28-71 12-18 72.
COLORADO (12-4)
Putnina 2-6 6-10 10, McFarland 8-13 8-12 24, Skildum 3-4 2-2 8, Powers 0-2 0-0 0, Spears 3-8 4-5 11, Smith 3-9 0-0 8, Houston 0-4 0-2 0, Blythe 0-0 1-2 1, Dunn 2-3 2-3 6, Dow 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-49 23-36 68.
Halftime — Colorado 32-28. 3-point goals — Texas A&M 4-17 (Franklin 2-5, Starks 2-8, Colson 0-2, Atunrase 0-2); Colorado 3-16 (Smith 2-7, Spears 1-4, Dunn 0-1, Putnina 0-1, McFarland 0-1, Powers 0-1, Skildum 0-1). Fouled out — Buchanan, Micheaux, Reado, Skildum, Smith. Rebounds — Texas A&M 39 (Gant 9, Starks 9); Colorado 45 (Spears 12). Assists — Texas A&M 9 (Franklin 4), Colorado 14 (Powers 7). Total fouls — Texas A&M 30, Colorado 19. A — 1,131.
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
