University of Missouri
Colorado
Mizzou Suffers 80-79 Overtime Defeat
2/23/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 23, 2010
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Junior Shakara Jones potential game-winning jumper bounced off the rim as the University of Colorado earned a come-from-behind 80-79 overtime victory Tuesday night at Mizzou Arena. The loss drops Mizzou to 11-15 overall and 1-12 in Big 12 Conference action, while the Buffaloes improve to 13-13 and 3-10.
With Missouri ahead 79-76, Colorado used two free throws from Brittany Spears with 1:38 on the clock and a layup from Meagan Malcolm-Peck with 55 seconds remaining to take a 80-79 lead, the team's first since a 6-5 advantage early in the contest. After turnovers by both teams, the Tigers had one final possession with 20 seconds on the clock but Jones' jumper missed for the Buffalo victory.
Junior RaeShara Brown posted a career high 21 points to go along with seven rebounds and three assists. Senior Jessra Johnson notched her second double-double of the season with 17 points and 11 rebounds and classmate Toy Richbow had a career high 12 points and three steals. Junior Shakara Jones pulled down 11 rebounds.
The Tigers started the contest clicking on the offensive end, first with baskets from senior Amanda Hanneman and Jones, followed by six consecutive points from Brown for an 11-6 Mizzou advantage with 16:05 on the clock. After a three-pointer from Colorado's Brittany Spears got the visitors within four, 18-14, Mizzou used a layups from Johnson and Brown and two free throws from Johnson to open up a 10-point advantage, 24-14, with 9:57 remaining in the first half.
With the Tigers on top 27-20, Missouri used a 10-2 run over the next three and half minutes, including six points from sophomore Christine Flores, to build a 15-point cushion, 37-22, with 4:29 left in the opening frame. The Buffaloes closed the half with a 14-6 run, concluding with a three from Spears with three seconds remaining, for a 43-36 Mizzou advantage at the break.
Mizzou was up by as many as 12 points in the second half, lastly after sophomore Christine Flores made two free throws for a 61-49 lead with 10:55 left in the game. A free throw from Jones gave the Tigers a 67-58 lead four minutes later but Colorado responded with a 16-7 run, including three triples, to knot the score at 74-74 with just 30 seconds remaining.
A short jumper from Johnson bounced away with 12 seconds on the clock and Colorado's Alyssa Fressle missed a jumper with three seconds left to send the game to overtime.
Mizzou hits the road on Saturday, Feb. 27 for a contest with No. 3 Nebraska at 7:05 p.m. in the first of two consecutive away games. The Tigers then travel to Austin, Texas, as the team takes on No. 12/14 Texas on Wednesday, March 3 at 7 p.m.
