Colorado completed its two game home stand 0-2 with losses to Iowa State and Texas A&M. The Buffs’ losses came on the heals of two road losses and leave the Buffs at 1-6 in conference play and 6-13 overall.
Colorado was never really in the game against Iowa State as the Cyclones used a deliberate and efficient offense to carve up the Buffs up. Not only was the Cyclones offense difficult for the Buffs to handle, but defensively their box and one kept the ball out of the hands of Jasmina Ilic and limiting Jackie McFarland’s touches in the paint.
Additionally, ISU was solid on the boards making the Buffs chances of coming back against a double-digit deficit slim. Iowa State won 86-71 getting a great game from guard Lyndsey Medders who racked up 14 assists to go along with 15 points.
On Tuesday night CU hosted Texas A&M with the Aggies posing a very different challenge from the Cyclones. A&M plays a physical defense often extending it full court and even if their opposition breaks the pressure they are often left with precious little time on the shot clock. This strategy would see the Aggies pressure the Buffs into 15 first half turnovers generating an eight point lead.
In the second half the Buffs would cut down on the turnovers thus they were slowly able to get themselves back into the game and eventually into a one point lead on a trey from Yari Escalera with about seven minutes left in the half. However, the Buffs would not be able to overcome their own poor free throw shooting down the stretch as well as some poor decisions. The final result was a 55-46 Aggie victory.
Colorado hits the road for games at Nebraska and Kansas beginning Saturday night.
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MarkW
HoopScoop.net
