Buffs tough down low

With a win over Notre Dame Sunday and a new No. 23 ranking in the polls, the Huskies were flying high. Then last night's game started.

Colorado All-American Tera Bjorklund scored 26 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as Washington lost to host Colorado 78-64.

The Buffaloes were able to do anything they wanted in the post, outscoring Washington in the paint 30 to six. The Buffalos dominated the glass, winning the rebounding battle 44-30 -- 17 of CU's total were offensive rebounds.

"You got to tip your hat to Colorado -- they were ready to play; they were excited about the game," said Husky coach June Daugherty. "I thought defensively they just took out of so many things early and we just weren't as patient as we needed to be offensively."

The first half was one the Huskies would like to forget. With the officials' liberal use of the whistle, Washington was unable to create a tempo early. This allowed Colorado to go to Bjorklund early and often, as Washington had no answers for the 6-foot-5-inch center.

Senior Andrea Lalum, who was second on the Huskies with 19 points, said the team tried to focus on Colorado's perimeter game, a strategy that backfired.

"We were just trying to contain [Bjorklund] down low. We knew she was going to get some points, but we wanted to shut down the perimeter and we just couldn't do it," Lalum said.

The Huskies began the game well, leading 3-2. However, that was the last time Washington would have the lead. The Buffalos quickly took command, leading 9-4 four minutes into the matchup and continuing to build upon the lead as the half progressed. With five minutes to go in the half, Colorado had built a 10-point lead before a Husky mini-run cut the lead to six, 31-25.

The inability by the Huskies to keep Colorado out of the post led to the Buffs pushing the lead up to 11 as the first half ended, 36-25 -- the first time Washington had trailed at the half this season. If not for Giuliana Mendiola scoring 11 of her team-high 20 points at the half, it might have been worse.

The second half began with the Huskies keeping pace with Colorado early. A Giuliana Mendiola lay-up closed the gap to 11 at 44-33. That was the closest Washington got to the Buffaloes in the second half as the Huskies still had no answers for the Colorado frontcourt.

Colorado continued to push the lead higher, as the Husky defense was unable to stop the inside game of the Buffs. Colorado led by as much as 23 in the second half. In the waning minutes, Washington was able to cut the lead to 14, which became the final deficit.

Despite such a negative result, Daugherty found something to take from the game.

"This could be a great opportunity for us, a great lesson," said Daugherty, "about going on the road, and how important for us to hang in there and fight harder for 40 minutes."