For 31 minutes Wednesday, the Colorado women's basketball team handled Texas A&M;'s pressure defense and physical style of play.

But the No. 25 Buffs are still learning how to finish out games, and it cost them again.

Colorado let slip away a decent second-half lead for the second game in a row and fell to No. 19 Texas A&M; 72-68 in the Coors Events Center.

"We're fighters, but we don't have the killer instinct," said Colorado senior Jackie McFarland, who was reduced to repeating those words she spoke on Sunday in regards to CU's 84-77 double overtime loss at home to Iowa State. "Everyone takes a step back and waits for the other team to die, and they don't do that."

Not in the Big 12.

After winning 11 in a row, and opening Big 12 play with a road win over Missouri, Colorado has lost consecutive games, and both were at home.

This loss, however, was uncharacteristic of the Buffs in some ways.

Colorado has out-rebounded all but one team this year, but when Wednesday's game was on the line, the Buffs were twice in a row unable to come up with a board when Texas A&M; missed the front end of a one-and-one. The Buffs were only trailing 66-64 at that point, but A&M;'s A'Quonesia Franklin made the last six free throws for the Aggies (13-4, 1-2) to seal the win.

The Buffs (12-4, 1-2) had handled A&M;'s pressure well, but the Aggies came up with three steals in less than three minutes to cut CU's lead from 53-47 to 55-54 with 6 minutes, 16 seconds to play. It got the Aggies on a roll, and CU couldn't respond.

"This is a sign of immaturity and it's something we haveto focus on and get better at," CU coach Kathy McConnell-Miller said. "I think it's a result of how much we've had to play from behind for the last two years. We are tough as nails when we're playing from behind, but we are a different team with a lead and I don't want to see that again."

Although there were key moments, such as A&M;'s steals and CU's missed rebounds, the biggest came when CU freshman Brittany Spears was called for traveling with 29 seconds left. The Buffs were trailing 66-64 when the call was made on Spears in a situation that looked like she had been hacked and pushed. If the call had gone CU's way, Spears would have gone to the free throw line with a chance to tie the game.

McConnell-Miller said she did not want to comment on the call.

Colorado had Texas A&M; in trouble, too, as three Aggies had fouled out. But the Aggies also had Danielle Gant, who scored 24 points and grabbed nine rebounds to go with Takia Starks' 18 points and nine rebounds. Franklin added 14 points. It was a win A&M; needed after losing its first two league games and having been picked the preseason favorites to win the Big 12.

Coach Gary Blair's plan was to play a physical game, which resulted in his team being whistled for 30 fouls.

McFarland paced the Buffs with 24 points and nine rebounds. Spears finished with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Sophomore Aija Putnina added 10 points and nine rebounds.

Texas A&M; 72, CU 68