BOULDER — All-America center Courtney Paris and No. 3 Oklahoma were a load for the Colorado women’s basketball team Wednesday night.
So what else is new? The Sooners’ 72-58 victory completed a murderer’s row of four consecutive ranked opponents to open the Buffaloes’ conference schedule.
Colorado (8-8, 0-4 Big 12) is winless after four league games for the first time in the program’s 35-year history. But spirits remain high, CU coach Kathy McConnell-Miller said afterward.
“We knew coming in what a tough stretch this was going to be,” McConnell-Miller said. “But we maintained our composure. A lot of teams at this point could have fallen apart, lost their confidence. . . . There’s nobody on this team that is headed in that direction.”
Getting a game-best 21 points from sophomore guard Brittany Spears, Colorado held an early lead and was tied (28-28) at halftime. Oklahoma took control early in the second half with a 16-0 run, making it 47-33 with 12 1/2 minutes remaining. Paris, a 6-foot-4 senior and one of the strongest players in the country, worked for position and scored seven points during the flurry.
The daughter of former all-pro Bubba Paris and a double-double machine ever since she stepped on campus, Paris finished with 19 points and 14 rebounds.
“Coach (Sherri Coale) said at halftime we had to get on people and start burying them,” Paris said.
Oklahoma (15-2, 4-0 Big 12) overcame early sloppiness against Colorado’s switching defenses and made it seven wins in a row over the Buffaloes.
In her final appearance at the Coors Events Center, Paris secured the 114th double-double of her career while extending her active streak of 109 in succession. Both are NCAA records.
Colorado senior center Kara Richards did what she could. At least Richards can say Paris failed to match her averages of 24 points and 16 rebounds in three previous meetings against CU.
“Their guards know how to get her the ball,” Richards said of Paris. “And she knows how to use her body.”
Twin sister Ashley Paris, a 6-3 senior, contributed 10 points and nine rebounds.
“I always wondered why they didn’t redshirt Ashley,” CU’s McConnell-Miller said.
“Thank God.”
OKLAHOMA (15-2, 4-0 BIG 12)
A.Paris 5-11 0-2 10, Thompson 1-4 1-2 3, C.Paris 9-10 1-3 19, Robinson 5-9 0-0 10, Hand 5-10 0-1 13, Stevenson 2-5 0-0 5, Roethlisberger 2-6 2-4 7, Hartman 0-0 2-2 2, Vining 1-3 1-1 3. Totals 30-58 7-15 72.
COLORADO (8-8, 0-4)
Spears 7-17 3-4 21, Richards 3-12 1-7 7, Fressle 5-9 2-4 12, Smith 5-9 0-0 15, Blythe 1-2 0-0 3, Skildum 0-0 0-0 0, Mullaney 0-0 0-0 0, Dunn 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 21-52 6-15 58.
Halftime — Tied 28-28. 3-point goals — Oklahoma 5-16 (Hand 3-6, Stevenson 1-3, Roethlisberger 1-4, Thompson 0-1, Vining 0-2), Colorado 10-18 (Smith 5-8, Spears 4-7, Blythe 1-1, Dunn 0-2). Fouled out — Smith. Rebounds — Oklahoma 44 (C.Paris 14), Colorado 24 (Richards 7). Assists — Oklahoma 17 (Robinson 5), Colorado 10 (Blythe 4). Total fouls — Oklahoma 11, Colorado 15. A — 2,066.
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
