Colorado Travels To #16/17 Texas Saturday

For the complete release, statistics and player notes click here: http://www.cubuffs.com/pdf5/366818.pdf   THE GAME: The University of Colorado continues Big 12 Conference action by taking on No. 16 (AP)/17 (WBCA) ranked University of Texas on Saturday, Jan. 17, at 6 p.m. MST at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin.   BROADCAST: Saturday's game will broadcast live on KKZN 760 AM with Mike Rice giving the play-by-play and Carol Callan of USA Basketball with the color commentary. Live internet audio of all CU basketball games is available through Yahoo! Sports.   OPENING TIP: Kathy McConnell-Miller is after her 50th win as Colorado's head coach and leads her team into a challenging start to the Big 12 season. The Buffaloes play the third of four straight games against Big 12 Southern Division teams, all four of which are currently ranked in both the Associated Press and WBCA Coaches polls. Colorado will be out for its first Big 12 road win since a 70-58 win over Missouri on Jan. 9, 2008 game and its first win at a Big 12 Southern Division team since defeating Baylor in Waco on Jan. 7, 2004, a span of 15-straight losses.   THE BUFFALOES: Colorado is 8-6 overall and 0-2 in the Big 12, dropping two straight after entering the league season on a five-game win streak. The Buffaloes will be looking for their second road win of the season, third away from Boulder. Colorado capped off its nonconference schedule on a high note, winning the 2009 Paradise Classic in Honolulu, with wins over Pepperdine and Hawaii. The Buffaloes are 5-11 on the road in the last two seasons after winning just five games in 33 tries in the three previous years (2004-07).   Sophomore Brittany Spears leads Colorado and ranks second in the Big 12 in scoring at 18 points per game. A member of the 2008 Big 12 All-Rookie Team, Spears has been held to 14 and 11 points in her first two conference games. She was named MVP of the Paradise Classic after averaging 16 points, seven rebounds and three blocks per game. Spears has five games of 20-plus points, including a 21 point performance in the win over Saint Louis on Dec. 22, where she had one of the better shooting nights of her young career hitting on 8-of-10 from the field including all three 3-point attempts. She has three double-doubles this season, most recently scoring 14 points and grabbing 13 rebounds against Idaho State on Dec. 30. She has the highest individual scoring output in the Big 12 this season, notching 36 against UMass in the first round of the Coors Classic, a Classic record and tying for the third best total in team history (Jasmina Ilic scored 36 against Nebraska on Jan. 4, 2006). Spears, who was named to the Coors Classic All-Tournament Team, ranks third in the Big 12 in minutes (33.5 mpg), eighth in blocked shots (1.3 bpg), ninth in rebounding (7.6 rpg) and 3-point field-goal percentage (.353), 10th in field-goal percentage (.444), 12th in 3-point field-goals made (1.7 3mpg) and 13th in free-throw percentage (.687).   Senior center Kara Richards had a strong nonconference season and has carried it over to the Big 12, averaging 12.3 points and 7.0 rebounds per game while hitting 57.6 percent from the field (68-of-118). She's among the league's top 20 players in scoring, rebounding and free-throw percentage and would rank second in the Big 12 in field-goal percentage but has two less field goals than the minimum of five made per game. Richards has recorded back-to-back games of 15 rebounds to start the Big 12 season, her first two double-digit rebounding efforts of the season and a single-game personal best.Richards was named to the Rainbow Classic All-Tournament team averaging 14 points and seven rebounds while hitting 71 percent from the field (12-of-17). Richards, who has already more points, field goals and rebounds than she had in 30 games as a junior, has eclipsed the 20 point mark twice this season, including a career-high 25 in the win over Colorado State, which included a personal best 9-of-9 performance from the free throw line.   Junior guard Bianca Smith is third on the team in scoring at 10.2 points per contest. Smith is Colorado's leading 3-point shooter with 32 on the season, second in the Big 12. She has made 13 of her last 26 field goal attempts (.500) and 8-of-18 from 3-point range (.444). Named to the Paradise Classic All-Tournament team, Smith had a game-high 23 points against Hawaii on 6-of-7 from 3-point range, a personal best from downtown in terms of accuracy. She's third on the team in rebounding at 5.1 per game, a substantial improvement from her career 1.7 average entering this season. Smith has six or more rebounds in eight of 14 games including a career high 12 -- all defensive -- against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, her first double-digit rebounding total.   True freshman guard Alyssa Fressle has given the Buffaloes good all-around play. Fressle leads CU in steals (1.9 spg) and assists (3.9 apg). She tops all Big 12 freshmen in steals and assists and is second in scoring at 9.1 per game. Overall in the conference rankings she is seventh in assists and 10th in steals.   Sophomore Britney Blythe has been the starting point guard for the last seven games with sophomore Kelly Jo Mullaney coming off the bench, a lineup that has produced a 5-2 record. Blythe, who is more of a natural point guard, had a career night against Baylor, hitting her first four 3-point field goals for a personal-best 12 points. Blythe, who finsihed the night a career-best 4-of-6 from the field, had made just 1-of-12 3-point field goals this season and 5-of-33 in her career prior to the Baylor game. Mullaney has also responded well to coming off the bench. She has made 15 of her last 31 field goal attempts spanning the last nine games. She is fifth on the team in scoring (4.6 ppg) and is second in assists with 30. Freshman forward Julie Seabrook recorded her first career double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds against Idaho State. She ranks fourth among freshmen in the Big 12 in rebounding at (3.8 rpg) and fifth in field-goal percentage (.500). Senior guard/forward Hannah Skildum is averaging 2.6 points and 2.3 rebounds, pitching in six points in the win over Hawaii. Sophomore center Courtney Dunn is providing minutes at the low post, averaging 2.3 points and 2.0 rebounds per game. Senior forward Dina Piterniece has played in nine games, eclipsing her total from last year, pitching in seven points and four rebounds. Colorado's bench has grown by one as sophomore guard Chelsea Dale returned from ankle surgery to make her season debut in the closing minutes against UMKC.   Colorado is averaging 64.5 points per game while allowing 62.4 to opponents. The Buffaloes are shooting 42 percent from the field and 67 percent from the free throw line. Colorado's field goal percentage defense has been good, limiting opponents to just 37.4 percent from the floor and 26.3 percent from 3-point range.   The Buffaloes have struggled to score on the road, averaging just 48.2 points in four true road games. CU has made just 33 percent of its field goals and 48 percent from the free-throw line. Opponents are also outrebounding the Buffaloes 52-34 on the road.   ABOUT THE LONGHORNS: No. 16/17 Texas is 13-3 overall and 1-1 in the Big 12, picking up its first league victory with a 74-60 decision over Nebraska on Jan. 14. The Longhorns have lost three of their last five since beginning the season 11-0 and assuming a No. 4 national ranking in both polls on Dec. 29. Texas, a perfect 9-0 at home, is averaging 77.8 points per game while holding its opponents to 54.3 a contest. The Longhorns defense has been solid, leading the Big 12 in opponent field-goal percentage (.332) and blocked shots (6.5 bpg). UT also leads the Big 12 in scoring margin (+23.4) and free-throw percentage (.750).   Junior guard Brittainey Raven leads Texas in scoring at 14.6 points per game, hitting 49 percent from the field. Sophomore guard Kathleen Nash, despite coming off the bench in nearly half the games, is UT's second leading scorer (14.2 ppg) and top rebounder (6.7 rpg) and leads the Big 12 Conference in free-throw percentage (.879). She has split time with junior Erika Arriaran who ranks third in scoring at 9.1 per game. Down low, Ashley Lindsey is a 51 percent shooter averaging 7.4 points per game and ranks third in the Big 12 in blocked shots (2.5 bpg).   SERIES RECORDS: This will be the 18th meeting between Colorado and Texas with the Longhorns holding a 13-4 series lead. The Buffaloes snapped an eight-game Texas winning streak in the series with a 67-52 win in Boulder on Feb. 16, 2008. The Longhorns are 6-1 at home against CU, winning the last five. Colorado's lone win in Austin was a 60-56 decision on Feb. 26, 1997.   COLORADO AND TEXAS, LAST 10: Date                 Result              Date                  Result 2/16/08 (H)        W, 67-52           3/13/03 (N)        L, 47-62 1/13/07 (A)        L, 49-68            2/19/03 (A)        L, 55-75 2/4/06 (H)          L, 64-69            1/6/02 (H)          L, 68-70 2/23/05 (A)        L, 40-83            1/31/01 (A)        L, 62-65 2/14/04 (H)        L, 45-51            2/19/00 (H)        W, 79-75   ON THIS DATE: Colorado is 5-3 all-time on Jan. 17 and will be playing on this date for the first time since an 80-40 loss at Texas Tech in 1998. The Buffs have never won on the road on Jan. 17 (0-3). Colorado is 159-130 all-time in the month of January.   CU IN BIG 12 OPENERS: Colorado dropped to 6-7 in Big 12 openers after the loss to Baylor. CU is 4-8 in its first road Big 12 game of the season, including a 70-58 win at Missouri in 2008 to open league play. The Buffaloes are 20-15 all-time in conference openers, including the Big Eight and Intermountain Conferences.   CHALLENGING START TO LEAGUE PLAY: With the latest AP poll out, Colorado will open its Big 12 schedule with four straight games against ranked teams, a first in team history. The Buffaloes opened with losses to No. 6/5 Baylor and No. 22/22 Oklahoma State and is set for No. 16/17 Texas before returning home to host No. 3 Oklahoma on Jan. 21. Colorado opened the 2002 Big 12 season with three straight games against ranked league opponents. The Buffaloes, who were ranked themselves between No. 14-21 during that stretch, lost all three of those matchups, falling to No. 3 Oklahoma, No. 21/20 Texas and No. 14/18 Kansas State. That stretch was the final three games of a five-game span against ranked opponents as the Buffaloes ended nonconference play with a loss at No. 20 Florida and win over No. 21/22 LSU. CU's upcoming four straight games against ranked teams are the most since that same five-game stretch during the 2001-02 season. The Buffaloes would go on to play a school record 16 games against ranked teams that season, winning six. CU's tough schedule paid dividens that season as the Buffaloes won 14 of their final 16 games, advancing to the 2002 Elite Eight.   MORE SMITH FROM DOWNTOWN: Bianca Smith, who set a CU single season record with 80 3-point field goals last year, is beginning to heat up once again from downtown as the Big 12 season begins.  After starting the season by hitting just 12 of her first 49 3-point attempts (.245), she has rebounded to hit 20-of-42 (.476) over the last seven games. Smith had a career night in terms of accuracy in the win over Hawaii hitting 6-of-7 from 3-point range en route to a season-high 23 points. She is tied for sixth with former teammate Jasimina Ilic (2003-07) on CU's career list for 3-point field goals made (144) and ranks seventh in attempts (400). Smith needs just six 3-pointers to move into fifth place.   BALANCED SCORING ATTACK: Colorado had its most balanced scoring attack in over two years as five players scored in double-digits during the Buffs 73-57 win over Idaho State. Brittany Spears and Kara Richards each had 14 points, Julie Seabrook and Bianca Smith each had 12 and Alyssa Fressle had 11. It was almost six in double-digits as Kelly Jo Mullaney had eight off the bench. It was CU's first game with five in double-digits since a 77-71 win at Kansas on Feb. 1, 2006. Current CU senior Hannah Skildum was one of the five with double digits in that game, scoring 11 off the bench as a freshman.   SEABROOK LEADS STRONG BENCH EFFORT: Freshman Julie Seabrook recorded her first career double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds in the win over Idaho State. Seabrook, who surpassed her previous career best in rebounds (5) with six in the first half alone, corralled eight offensive rebounds in the win, the most on that side of the ledger for CU since Jackie McFarland had eight against Oklahoma on Jan. 20, 2007. Seabrook's 12 points off the bench were the most by a Buff this season and the team's 22 bench points tied for the best output of the season, matching the effort in the season-opening win over UCF.   SOUTHERN GAME CANCELLED: Colorado's home game with Southern University scheduled for Friday, Dec. 12, was cancelled due to inclement weather. A rare southern snow storm, which left 3-5 inches in and around the Baton Rouge area the morning of Dec. 11, shut down many businesses, schools and flights. Southern's travel plans were cancelled and the Jaguars were not able find travel alternatives to Boulder for the Dec. 12 date.  The game will not be rescheduled in 2008-09.   CU women's basketball season ticket holders and fans who purchased single game tickets for the Southern contest can redeem their tickets for any other game remaining on the women's schedule. For more information, contact the CU Athletic Ticket Office at 303-49BUFFS or 800-87BUFFS.   SCORING EARLY AND OFTEN AT COORS: The Buffaloes offense started the season red hot, breaking the 80-point mark in their first two games (89.5 ppg). It was the first time CU opened the season with back-to-back 80-plus point games since the 2002-03 campaign when the Buffs began with home wins over Rice (85-66) and Detroit Mercy (86-43). The 179 combined points were CU's most since 2000-01 when the Buffs scored 189 in wins over Albany (93-43) and Howard (96-45).   AGAINST RANKED TEAMS: Colorado is 50-110 all-time against ranked teams, after falling to No. 22/22 Oklahoma State on Jan. 14. CU had one of its more successful years against ranked teams in 2007-08, sporting a 3-4 records. Prior to the 2007-08 season, the Buffs had suffered 23 straight losses against ranked opponents from 2004-07.   BUFFS IN OPENERS: Colorado improved to 30-5 (.857) all-time in season openers and an outstanding 33-2 (.942) all-time in home openers. Colorado has never lost its overall season opener when played at home (23-0).   HOUSTON TO MISS SEASON, DALE RETURNS: Junior guard Whitney Houston will miss the 2008-09 season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee on Sept. 24 during team individual workouts. She had successful surgery in October and will be able to use her redshirt season and have  two years of eligibility remaining.   Houston has averaged 6.1 points and 1.8 assists for the Buffaloes in 59 games over the past two seasons. She was a starter in 20 of those and was in the mix for the starting point guard position once again. Houston was CU's leader in scoring (4.3 ppg) and assists (1.4 apg) among those that primarily came off the bench in 2007-08 and averaged 6.5 points and just under two assists over the final 15 games. Sophomore guard Chelsea Dale, who underwent successful surgery to stabilize ligaments in her right ankle in early September, made her season debut against UMKC, playing in the final two minutes of the game. She saw action in 12 games as a true freshman in 2007-08.   BUFFS PICKED 11TH...AGAIN: For the third straight season Colorado was picked to finish 11th in the annual Big 12 Conference Preseason Coaches Poll.   Oklahoma was picked to win the 2009 title with seven first place votes and 124 points overall. Texas, earning one first place vote, edged out Iowa State for second place with 95 points. The Cyclones, who actually claimed a pair of first place votes came in third with 93. Baylor was fourth with 89 (and one first place vote), followed by Texas A&M (85), Oklahoma State (79, and one first place vote), Kansas State (71), Nebraska (56), Kansas (41), Texas Tech (36), Colorado (18) and Missouri (15).   The Buffaloes have fared better than the Big 12 coaches preseason prediction each of the last three seasons under Kathy McConnell-Miller:   Season                       Preseason            Actual 2008-09                       11th                      ?? 2007-08                       11th                      9th 2006-07                       11th                      t-7th 2005-06                       12th                      11th   TOUGH SCHEDULE: Colorado once again faces a tough schedule with no less than 17 games against 2008 NCAA or WNIT tournament teams. Eight of CU's opponents are ranked in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches and Associated Press polls while Texas A&M, Baylor and Oklahoma are in the top 10 of both.   HOME AT THE CECC: Colorado is traditionally tough at home with a 328-101 all-time record at the Coors Events/Conference Center (.765). The Buffaloes have won 10 or more games in a season at the CECC in 20 of the previous 30 years including a 15-6 mark in 2007-08. The Buffaloes have enjoyed five undefeated seasons (1980-83, 1992-94) at the CECC.   BUFFS ON TV: Colorado's schedule features seven games that will be televised either regionally or nationally, all at home and on FSN Rocky Mountain. The Buffaloes will host Nebraska on Saturday, Jan. 31 in a nationally televised contest on FSN. Other games on CU's FSN Rocky Mountain schedule are Colorado State (Nov. 19), Baylor (Jan. 10), Oklahoma (Jan. 21), Texas Tech (Jan. 28), Iowa State (Feb. 7) and Missouri (Feb. 28).   UP NEXT: Colorado will return home to host No. 3/3 Oklahoma on Wednesday, Jan. 21, at 7 p.m. at the Coors Events/Conference Center. The game will be televised live on FSN Rocky Mountain.