Second Half Run Not Enough To Push Colorado Past Stanford, Losing 69-56

A 16-2 run midway through the second half wasn't enough to lift Colorado over No. 6 Stanford, as the Buffs fell by a count of 69-56.

In the two teams' first meeting in Boulder, CU had a tough time scoring, finding themselves down 17-2 early on. In the rematch in Palo Alto, Colorado was ready at the tip, taking a 6-4 lead at the 15:31 mark.

Stanford would respond nicely, going on a quick 8-0 run, forcing a timeout from Linda Lappe. Colorado would continue to fight, finding themselves only down three after a nice drive and dish by Chucky Jeffery set up an uncontested Kyleesha Weston layup at the 5:11 mark. Stanford's Amber Orrange answered with a mid-range jumper, but Jamee Swan punched back, bringing the Buffs back within three with a jumper of her own, two of her team-high 14 points.

However, for the second straight contest, the Buffs would have a difficult time closing the first half. Only down three at the final media timeout of the first half, Colorado was outscored by six in the final 3:19 of the first half, going into the locker room down 35-26.

Out of halftime, Stanford only continued their run, extending their lead to 21 with 14:26 left in the game. After a nine minute slump, in which the Cardinal outscored CU 25-7, Colorado finally woke up.

After her twin sister Brittany hit two free throws to stop the bleeding, Ashley Wilson hit a three to cut the gap to 16. Two stops and two scores later, venerable Stanford head coach Tara VanDerveer was forced to call timeout, as her team's lead had dwindled to 12.

Following the timeout, CU kept the pressure on. Arielle Roberson hit one of two free throws, and Jeffery converted a layup after a turnover to cut the Cardinal lead to six.

Toni Kokenis finally broke the Cardinal scoring drought of over five minutes with a layup, but Colorado was not deterred, as Roberson hit a free throw and Brittany Wilson sunk a three-pointer to bring CU to within 53-46.

Stanford finally broke the Buffs with a highly unlikely 7-0 run. After the Cardinal received possession after a tie up, Joslyn Tinkle hit a jumper as the shot clock expired. On the following Stanford possession, CU played tough defense, almost forcing an over and back call. With the shot clock once again about to expire, Kokenis nailed a three from the corner and drew a foul. Following the missed Kokenis free throw, Chiney Ogwumike snared the rebound and put it back in, capping a five point Stanford possession.

Colorado returns to the court on Friday, as they travel to face No. 19 UCLA.