Nashville, Tenn. ? Bianca Smith scored 22 points, and Colorado held off No. 20 Vanderbilt for a 62-51 victory Sunday.
The Buffaloes led 52-32 with 7:07 to play before the Commodores went on a 17-0 run to cut the lead to 52-49 with 3:01 remaining. But Colorado (6-2) made 10 consecutive free throws in the final 1:47 to secure the victory.
Jackie McFarland scored 12 points in a 27-5 run in the second half that helped the Buffaloes build a 20-point lead.
McFarland had 16 points for Colorado. Liz Sherwood led Vanderbilt (8-3) with 22 points.
Both teams struggled offensively in the first half, with Vanderbilt shooting 40.9 percent from the floor and Colorado 38.9.
The Buffaloes committed seven turnovers in the first four minutes, allowing the Commodores to race to a 12-3 lead. Sherwood scored three early baskets.
Later in the half, Vanderbilt went 8:34 without scoring. Colorado took advantage, as Smith scored 13 of the team’s first 17 points, capped by back-to-back 3-pointers, to give the Buffaloes a 17-14 advantage.
No. 12 Texas A&M 73, New Orleans 44
College Station, Texas – Danielle Gant scored a career-high 28 points and pulled down 14 rebounds for the Aggies, who led 37-25 at the half before breaking it open.
La Toya Micheaux scored 11 points, including seven of Texas A&M’s first 13, and Takia Starks added 10 for the Aggies.
Jada Frazier came off the bench to score 19 points to lead New Orleans. Brittany Helm had nine points, including seven in the first half.
