Marquette 86, Colorado 72

4/2/2008 9:16 PM

By PAT GRAHAM
AP Sports Writer

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) -Krystal Ellis scored 27 points, Angel Robinson added 17 and Marquette advanced to its second WNIT title game in three years, beating Colorado 86-72 on Wednesday night in the semifinals.

The Golden Eagles will play at Michigan State in the WNIT championship game on Saturday. The Spartans beat North Carolina State, 58-57, in the other semifinal contest.

Marquette also advanced to the WNIT finals in 2006, before losing to Kansas State, 77-65.

Janelle Harris added 13 points and Erin Monfre grabbed eight rebounds, helping Marquette (20-14) to its third straight 20-win season.

Jackie McFarland finished with 17 points, closing out her career in second place on Colorado's all-time scoring list with 1,957 points.

McFarland, who was recently named an honorable mention to The Associated Press women's All-America team, entered the game averaging 27.7 points in three WNIT contests.

Brittany Spears added 16 points, hitting four 3-pointers, and Bianca Smith had 12.

The Golden Eagles went on a 17-1 run early in the first half to help open up a comfortable cushion. The team led by as many as 25 points in the first half thanks to 14 Colorado turnovers, resulting in one layup after another. Marquette scored 26 of its 45 first-half points from the paint.

The Buffaloes (19-15) whittled the lead down to 56-44 on a 3-pointer by Spears with 13:58 remaining in the game, but Marquette answered with a 15-2 run to restore the lead and help send the Golden Eagles to their season-best fourth straight win.

Colorado, playing its first game in the month of April, had won seven straight at home before the loss. The Buffaloes drop to 18-5 all-time at home in the postseason.

It's only the second time the two teams have met. Colorado beat Marquette 77-74 at Coors Events Center on March 16, 1994.