LINCOLN, Neb. - Colorado had one of its best outside shooting performances of the season, but No. 3 Nebraska's balance from both inside and out was the deciding factor.
Kelsey Griffin had 25 points and 11 rebounds to lead No. 3 Nebraska to an 89-73 win over Colorado in a Big 12 Conference game Saturday afternoon at the Bob Devaney Center.
Brittany Spears had 26 points, including a career-high six 3-pointers but it wasn't enough as the Buffaloes (12-13, 2-10 Big 12) lost their eighth straight and 10th in their last 11 outings.
Colorado hit a season-high 15 3-pointers, its most ever on the road and one off the single-game school record, and did it with efficiency, hitting at 55.6 percent (15-of-27).
But the Buffaloes didn't have the answer inside for the Huskers' front-court duo of Griffin and Cory Montgomery. Griffin scored 18 of her 25 points in the second half, many coming off second-chance opportunities. Nebraska had 24 second chance points and also dominated in the paint outscoring the Buffaloes 36-16.
Montgomery had 17 points and seven rebounds as the Huskers (25-0, 12-0 Big 12) shot 50 percent for the game.
Bianca Smith had 18 points and season-high seven rebounds. Courtney Dunn had 11 points, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range.
After Nebraska scored the first four points of the game, the Buffaloes came out firing. CU hit five of its first six from deep, including four from Spears, as the Buffaloes led 15-9 four minutes into the contest
But Spears picked up three fouls, two on offensive charging calls, before the 10-minute mark. Soon after, Nebraska started clicking.
With CU up 17-15, Spears was called for a charge and headed to the bench with her second foul. Dunn gave the Buffs their sixth 3-pointer of the first half and a 20-17 lead.
Nebraska countered with two consecutive fast break buckets by Dominique Kelley to take a 21-20 lead. CU inserted Spears back into the game, but she quickly picked up her third foul on another charging call.
With Spears back on the bench, Nebraska started to find its stroke. After making just one of its first 10 3-point shots, Nebraska received three straight 3-pointers by Nicole Neals, Yvonne Turner and Lindsey Moore as the Huskers went on a 23-7 run; 19-7 once Spears picked up her third foul. Montgomery hit a 12-footer to cap the run giving the Huskers their largest lead at 40-27.
Smith scored seven points over the final 3:43 to cut the Huskers lead to 43-36 at the break.
Colorado was able to knock the Nebraska lead down to five on six different occasions in the second half, only to have the Huskers answer each time.
Spears pulled the Buffs to 70-65, but Griffin scored inside and Turner hit a 3. After Kelly Jo Mullaney knocked down a 3, the Huskers went on a 10-2 run to make it 85-70.
"I don't think the score is reflective of the passion and energy and the way my team battled tonight," Buffs coach Kathy McConnell-Miller said. "It's hard to go through a season like this in the Big 12. It's tough to look up at the scoreboard after a game and feel like you've given your blood, sweat and tears for the University of Colorado and not come out with a victory."
Nebraska shot 60 percent in the second half and 50 percent for the game. Griffin was a perfect 8-of-8 in the second half, finishing the game 10-of-14 from the field.
Colorado continues Big 12 play at the University of Missouri on Tuesday, Feb. 23, at 5:30 p.m. MST in Columbia.
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