BOULDER — Take away the first eight minutes Saturday and Colorado gave Big 12 women’s basketball champ Baylor a competitive game.
But with Baylor showcasing national player of the year candidate Brittney Griner, CU never had a chance in an 81-59 loss.
The 6-foot-8 Griner is one of the best known women’s players in the country — with five career dunks. The sophomore led all players Saturday with 26 points and 13 rebounds. She also blocked four shots. She did everything but the anticipated dunk.
“Well, she’s a big presence,” said Baylor’s Melissa Jones, a former Colorado Gatorade player of the year from Legacy High School. “She’s changing the game of basketball. To have someone of that caliber (against) your team, you can’t help but have that look in your eyes if you’ve never seen that before, because you haven’t.”
The intimidation factor in the paint was so significant CU put up 37 of its 69 shots from behind the arc.
“We had to have an attacking mentality,” CU coach Linda Lappe said. “I thought we came out a little bit on our heels.”
Colorado did not exit without a fitting senior sendoff for forward Brittany Spears. She sat down with 43 seconds remaining to a standing ovation. Her 23 points pushed her over the 500-point plateau for the third consecutive season.
She wouldn’t give Griner too much credit.
“I don’t think we were star-struck because we played them last year,” Spears said. “We were rushing our shots.”
The Coors Events Center crowd of 6,012 — the biggest since 2004 when the Buffs last made the NCAA Tournament — watched as Baylor (28-2, 15-1) looked every bit the No. 3 team in the country. The Bears raced out to a 22-2 lead. An 18-4 Buffs run to close out the first half cut the lead to 34-28.
CU certainly missed its leading rebounder, Chucky Jeffery. The 5-10 sophomore guard was attending a relative’s funeral.
“Obviously, it’s a huge difference,” Lappe said.
CU (15-14, 6-10) heads into the Big 12 Tournament beginning Tuesday in Kansas City, Mo., all but assured of a WNIT bid if it doesn’t win the Big 12.
BAYLOR (28-2, 15-1 BIG 12)
Williams 5-12 0-3 10, Griner 8-18 10-11 26, Sims 5-10 6-6 18, Madden 1-2 3-3 5, Jones 0-1 0-0 0, Hayden 4-5 2-3 11, Zachariason 0-0 0-0 0, Robertson 0-0 1-2 1, Condrey 0-2 0-0 0, Field 0-0 0-0 0, Palmer 1-1 2-2 4, Pope 2-10 2-2 6, Chandler 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-61 26-32 81.
COLORADO (15-14, 6-10)
Seabrook 0-5 0-0 0, Spears 8-25 4-4 23, Blythe 1-5 0-0 3, B. Wilson 5-14 0-0 12, Dale 1-7 0-0 2, A. Wilson 1-2 0-0 3, M. Malcolm-Peck 5-11 2-4 16, Hargis 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-69 6-8 59.
Halftime — Baylor 34-28. 3-point goals — Baylor 3-7 (Sims 2-4, Hayden 1-1, Madden 0-1, Condrey 0-1), Colorado 11-37 (M. Malcolm-Peck 4-8, Spears 3-11, B. Wilson 2-5, A. Wilson 1-1, Blythe 1-5, Seabrook 0-3, Dale 0-4). Fouled out — Hargis. Rebounds — Baylor 48 (Griner 13), Colorado 40 (M. Malcolm-Peck 10). Assists — Baylor 17 (Sims 5), Colorado 11 (Blythe, Dale, Spears, B. Wilson 2). Total fouls — Baylor 12, Colorado 21. A — 6,012.
Natalie Meisler: 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com
