Junior Brittany Spears was Big 12 co-player of the week in November. Photo by Ray Miller

With a couple of freshmen from Colorado providing a lift, the women’s basketball team posted its second-best nonconference record in Kathy McConnell-Miller’s five seasons as CU coach (10-3). The Buffs had won 10 of their first 11 home games as of Jan. 9, but one of their road losses came against rival Colorado State.

Freshmen Chucky Jeffery from Colorado Springs and Meagan Malcolm-Peck from Boulder earned starting spots early on and were two of the Buffs’ statistical leaders in nonconference play. Malcolm-Peck and Jeffery were each named Big 12 freshman of the week once in the first half of the season. Junior Brittany Spears, who averaged almost 20 points and nine rebounds in the first half of the season, was Big 12 co-player of the week in November.

“They’re just getting better and becoming smarter basketball players,” McConnell-Miller said of her overall roster. “Chucky in particular, her basketball I.Q. has just soared over the past three months. They’re just getting it.”

Meanwhile, co-captain and backup guard Whitney Houston took an indefinite leave of absence for personal reasons just before CU won its Big 12 opener against Missouri and matched last season’s overall victory total (11).