KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Two guards who can score points in bunches will fortify the Colorado women’s basketball roster next season. The Buffaloes could have used them Tuesday.
Colorado senior forward Jackie McFarland scored 21 points but didn’t get enough help and the No. 9-seeded Buffs were eliminated 76-50 by eighth-seeded Iowa State in the first round of the Big 12 tournament at Municipal Auditorium.
CU (16-14, 5-11 Big 12) shot just 28.1 percent in the second half while getting outscored 37-22 by the Cyclones (19-11, 7-9).
In a game where Colorado failed to match Iowa State’s hot shooting (14-for-31 on 3-pointers), coach Kathy McConnell- Miller could only wonder what impact Colorado State transfer Kelly Jo Mullaney and Highlands Ranch star Alyssa Fressle will make — beginning next fall.
“We really need players to put the ball on the floor to make a difference,” McConnell-Miller said. (Mullaney and Fressle) bring that. They are strong with the ball.”
McFarland finished the game one point shy of tying Tera Bjorklund (2000-04) for second place on CU’s all-time scoring list, but McConnell-Miller believes the Buffs’ season has not ended. As the ninth-place finisher in the conference, Colorado would get an automatic invitation to the Women’s National Invitation Tournament if eight Big 12 teams receive bids to the NCAA Tournament. Otherwise, CU may get one of the 17 at-large spots. The bracket will be announced Monday night.
“It would be an honor,” said McFarland, who has never participated in postseason play.
McConnell-Miller, posting her first winning record, said she has had preliminary discussions about a contract extension with athletic director Mike Bohn.
“Kathy is our coach,” said Bohn, in Kansas City for the men’s and women’s tournaments. “I believe the improvement we’re seeing in the type of talent we’re seeing on the recruiting side, coupled with the investments we’re making in facilities, will pay benefits.”
COLORADO (16-14)
Powers 0-1 0-0 0, Smith 4-11 0-0 9, Spears 2-5 0-0 5, Putnina 3-3 0-0 8, McFarland 8-15 5-6 21, Skildum 2-8 0-0 5, Dale 1-2 0-0 2, Houston 0-3 0-0 0, Dunn 0-0 0-0 0, Blythe 0-2 0-0 0, Dow 0-1 0-0 0, Richards 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 20-52 5-6 50.
IOWA STATE (19-11)
Bolte 8-14 0-0 19, Ezell 9-16 0-0 25, Nisleit 2-11 1-2 5, Lacey 4-9 2-2 13, Anderson 0-3 2-4 2, Stuckey 3-6 1-1 7, Florzak 1-3 0-0 3, Lightbourne 1-2 0-0 2, Lange 0-0 0-0 0, Mosman 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 28-64 6-9 76.
Halftime — Iowa St. 39-28. 3-point goals — Colorado 5-18 (Putnina 2-2, Spears 1-2, Skildum 1-3, Smith 1-6, Powers 0-1, McFarland 0-1, Blythe 0-1, Houston 0-2), Iowa St. 14-31 (Ezell 7-11, Lacey 3-5, Bolte 3-8, Florzak 1-3, Nisleit 0-4). Fouled out — Anderson. Rebounds — Colorado 38 (Spears 8), Iowa St. 31 (Stuckey 8). Assists — Colorado 11 (Spears 3), Iowa St. 21 (Lacey 10). Total fouls — Colorado 13, Iowa St. 11. A — N/A.
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
