Buffs Overcome Tigers, 56-51

Tuesday, January 18

Columbia, Mo.

7:00 P.M. CT

University of Missouri

Colorado

Carlynn Savant led Mizzou with 12 points Tuesday night.

1/18/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball

Jan. 18, 2005

Box Score

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Despite a late rally, the Missouri women's basketball team fell to Colorado, 56-51, in Big 12 Conference action Tuesday night at Mizzou Arena. It is the fourth straight loss for the Tigers (7-9, 1-4 Big 12).

Freshman Jackie McFarland had game-highs of 20 points and 11 rebounds to lead Colorado (8-7, 1-3), which broke its own three-game losing streak. Sophomore forward Carlynn Savant (Euless, Texas / Trinity HS) led three Tigers in double-figure scoring with 12 points, and was the only Missouri player with a positive assist-to-turnover ratio; Missouri committed a season-high 29 turnovers on the night.

"I think it's fitting that today was the first day of classes, because we got schooled," Head Coach Cindy Stein said. "The line-item was 29 turnovers, and 16 of them came from two players that you rely on a lot. It's uncharacteristic, but it's something that happened. This was just one of those nights that we didn't do a whole lot right."

The Tigers hit five of their first seven shots in staking out to a 12-2 lead just 3 minutes, 29 seconds into the game. After the Buffs drew within two with 11:01 left, the Tigers pushed the lead back to 10 with the help of several Colorado turnovers and a 3-pointer from Savant.

Mizzou committed 17 turnovers in the first half, more than the Tigers average in a game. Yet 42 percent shooting (11-of-26), compared to CU's 27 percent (9-of-34) to go with their 13 first-half turnovers, helped give MU a 28-20 lead at the break.

Colorado made its first five shots of the second half to twice come within two points before sophomore forward Tiffany Brooks (Leavenworth, Kan. / Leavenworth HS / Kansas State) and junior center Christelle N'Garsanet (Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire / Illinois Central College) hit back-to-back buckets with 16:23 left in the game.

Following a free throw from sophomore forward EeTisha Riddle (O'Fallon, Ill. / O'Fallon HS), Colorado went on an 8-0 run to take a 40-37 lead. Then with 13:12 left to play, Brooks drove the left baseline and hit a circus layup while being fouled to tie the game at 40.

After two Brooks free throws regain the lead for Missouri, CU stormed off to a 10-0 run over the next 4:36 to take a 51-42 lead with 5:31 remaining.

N'Garsanet broke the drought by both canning a bucket and drawing Kara Richards' fifth foul the next time down the floor. It also ignited an 8-0 Tiger run over the next 1:51 that pulled Mizzou to within one (51-50) with just over two minutes left in regulation. The Tigers, however, would add only one more free throw by N'Garsanet down the stretch, and Anna Nedovic and Sarah Lini combined to hit five free throws to seal the win for CU.

The Tigers hit the road on Saturday for the Border Showdown with Kansas on Saturday evening. The game, set for 7 p.m., will be telecast statewide over the Mizzou Sports Network.