Buffaloes clobber Jayhawks

By J-W Staff And Wire Reports     Feb 25, 2004

AP Photo
Kansas guard Erica Hallman, left, passes under pressure from Colorado's Kate Fagan. The Buffaloes defeated the Jayhawks, 75-56, Tuesday night at Boulder, Colo.

? Kate Fagan had 20 points, and coach Ceal Barry earned her 500th career victory when No. 14 Colorado downed Kansas University, 75-56, in women’s college basketball Tuesday.

Randie Wirt tied her career high with 17 points and had 10 rebounds to record her fifth double-double. Tera Bjorklund added a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds for the Buffs (21-5, 10-4 Big 12 Conference).

“We’ve been talking about (the 500th win) for a while,” Barry said. “You never want to be in the position where you say, ‘Well, maybe next game we’ll try again.’ When I was 24 years old, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I think you have seen it all at 500.”

Colorado led from start to finish. The Buffs built their lead to 18 with five minutes remaining in the first half before letting the Jayhawks pull within 38-31 at the half.

Kansas came out in the second half and cut CU’s lead to five after sophomore Erica Hallman nailed a jumper for two of her 10 points. The Buffs answered with a 19-4 run and didn’t look back.

Back-to-back three-pointers from Fagan midway through the second half put the Buffs up by 19 and put the game out of reach. Fagan sank six three-pointers for a season total of 73, setting a school record.

Kansas (9-16, 2-12) was led by Larisha Graves with 15 points and six rebounds. Sophomore Crystal Kemp chipped in 12 points for KU, and sophomore Tamara Ransburg grabbed a team-high nine boards and three blocks.

Barry’s milestone win wasn’t the only thing the Buffs celebrated, as Fagan, Wirt, Bjorklund and Maria Billingsley played their final games at Coors Events Center.

“Obviously there were a lot of reason to get this win,” Barry said. “We got going pretty well early on and that was good. We took a big lead early. Cleary our seniors really contributed for us. The most important thing is that we finished strong. It was a big night for our team.”

With the victory sealed, signs bearing the No. 500 were handed out to fans who waved them wildly, and while Barry didn’t want to steal the spotlight from her seniors, they were glad to share. Fagan grabbed the PA microphone and sang the praises of Barry before the final salute to the seniors.

Barry’s record in her 25th season is 500-262. She’s 417-220 in 21 years at Colorado, and was 83-42 in four seasons at Cincinnati.

Her 417 victories are more than any other coach in school history, in any sport. She has coached the Buffs to four conference titles and 13 20-win seasons. Barry has led the Buffs to 11 NCAA Tournament berths, six Sweet 16s and three Elite Eight appearances, the most recent in the 2001-02 season.

For all her accomplishments, Barry still yearns for an elusive trip to the Final Four.

“Five-hundred will become 600, and then 700 and then 800, but the big thing then becomes seriously going to the Final Four and winning a national championship,” Barry said before the game. “I think I’ve done a good job with the players I have, but to achieve those goals, I think I really need to get after it on the recruiting trail.”

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