Feb. 10, 2005
BOULDER, Colo. - Junior G LaToya Bond (Urbana, Ill. / Urbana HS) hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give Missouri a 58-55 win over Colorado in Big 12 Conference action Wednesday night at the Coors Events and Conference Center. It is Mizzou's first win in Boulder since 1990, and earns the Tigers (8-13, 2-8 Big 12) their first road league win of the year.
Officials reviewed the television monitor to verify the shot was indeed attempted before time expired.
Bond and sophomore F Tiffany Brooks (Leavenworth, Kan. / Leavenworth HS / Kansas State) each finished with a game-high-tying 15 points, while sophomore F EeTisha Riddle (O'Fallon HS / O'Fallon, Ill.) set several career highs, earning her first-ever double-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds, three steals and a career-high-tying three blocks. Despite not making a field goal, junior C Christelle N'Garsanet (Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire / Illinois Central College) finished with 10 rebounds.
Both teams shot poorly in the early going, with the Buffs holding a 4-2 lead at the first media timeout and the two squads combining for 3-of-14 shooting. CU's Kara Richards picked up two quick fouls in the game's fourth minute and was forced to the bench.
A Riddle jumper brought Mizzou to within one at 7-6, yet the Buffs slowly inched forward, trading basket for basket, and often getting a 3-pointer in exchanged for a Mizzou basket or free throw. CU's largest first-half lead came on a Jasmina Ilic jumper for a 32-20 advantage with 2:20 remaining.
Yet despite going over six minutes without a basket, the Tigers hit four free throws before sophomore F Carlynn Savant (Euless, Texas / Trinity HS) knocked MU's first 3-pointer with 27 seconds left, and went into the locker room down nine (34-25).
A determined Missouri team came out of the locker room, and despite a half-opening basket from Veronica Johns-Richardson, continued to fight. Senior C Megan Roney (Independence, Mo. / Truman HS) started a 10-2 run with a 3-pointer, and N'Garsanet hit her free throw with 9:08 left to bring Mizzou to within two (42-40).
The Tigers took a 46-45 lead on a pair of Bond free throws with 6:08 left, then extended it to 51-47 on a Savant 3-pointer with 3:53 remaining. A Brooks baseline jumper made it 53-47 before Kara Richards scored CU's next four point on a 3-point play and another free throw the next time down.
N'Garsanet found Riddle open underneath with 1:10 left for another four-point cushion before Whitney Law brought Colorado within two with 57 seconds left. Following a Missouri miss, Johns-Richardson tied it with 13.4 seconds left before the Tigers called timeout at halfcourt with 9.7 seconds remaining.
"We talked at halftime about continuing to stick together. They did, and they stayed positive," said Associate Head Coach Betsy Yonkman, who patrolled the sideline in absence of Head Coach Cindy Stein as she remained in her hometown of Peoria, Ill., to assist with her ailing father. "I'm really proud of the team and the way they fought for 40 minutes."
The Tigers return home this Saturday for a 7 p.m. game against Texas A&M. A special "Heart of the Tiger" promotion will take place in support of American Heart Month. The MU Department of Athletics will donate $1 of every ticket sold to University of Missouri Health Care to go toward vital heart health-related services.