Buffs Remain Positive in Tough Stretch

BOULDER – Successes for the Colorado women's basketball team have been tough to come by of late. Despite a tough few weeks, the team has continued to stay positive and focused.

The Buffaloes look to get back on track when they return to the CU Events Center this week. CU hosts UCLA on Friday (7 p.m.) and Southern California on Sunday (1 p.m.).

Colorado head coach JR Payne and her coaching staff have seen improvements, even if it does not reflect in the team's record.

"The way we have to measure success right now is different than what the scoreboard says at the end of the game," Payne explained. "We are having success, it is just not showing up in the win column. It's been about our individual growth. It's the things we focus on in practice that week and if we are able to maintain consistency. That's success for us."

The Buffs were dealt a deafening blow with the loss of senior point guard Kennedy Leonard. CU has played its last seven games without its all-time assist leader. Colorado was 10-4 with Leonard in the lineup, averaging 71.1 points and 14.4 assists per game. The team has gone 0-7 with Leonard sidelined, averaging 57.4 points and 9.6 assists per game.

Leonard, who remains day-to-day, continues to work non-stop to get back on the court. Meanwhile, her teammates have fought through the growing pains.

"I think everybody realized pretty quickly that Kennedy made everyone's lives a little bit easier," Payne added. "Different positions on the floor are going, 'Why does it feel so different?' It's because one of the best point guards in America is no longer playing.

"Kennedy was more than our point guard. She was our leading scorer, third-leading rebounder, our leader in steals and assists. People are figuring out who they are without her on the floor. Which is a great thing for us."

Colorado's youth has been the beneficiary of its misfortune. Freshman guard Lesila Finau has been "thrown into the fire," as Payne described.

Finau has played in 19 of CU's games this season, but her impact had been minimal prior to Leonard's injury. Finau was averaging just 5.8 minutes per game with a healthy Leonard.

She broke through against Washington, scoring nine points in 30 minutes off the bench in CU's first game without Leonard. She earned her first start in CU's next game at Washington State and hasn't looked back.

"Sila has done a great job of really growing," Payne described. "If we were to watch the film from a month ago, she is a totally different player."

While no definite timeline has been set for Leonard's return the team is hopeful she will be back by season's end.

"She will be back," Payne stated. "We are a better basketball team now than when she first got injured. We will only be better when we get to add her back into the mix."

Friday's game is CU's annual pink game. The Buffs have partnered with the Kay Yow Cancer Fund and are participating in the Play4Kay National Free Throw Challenge. The Buffs are competing against other schools to help raise money for the fight against cancer throughout February. Fans can make a pledge per free throw or a one-time donation. For more information on how to donate visit CUBUffs.com/PLAY4KAY.

The Game: Colorado and UCLA meet up for the 16th time in series history on Friday. The Buffs are still in search of their first Pac-12 win, while the Bruins have won their last four games, sweeping the Arizona and Washington schools.

About the Buffaloes: Colorado's loss at Oregon dropped the Buffs below .500 (10-11) for the first time this season. The Buffs have four players averaging double-figure scoring this season. Senior Kennedy Leonard (14.1 ppg) leads the group. Senior Alexis Robinson (11.7), junior Quinessa Caylao-Do (11.2) and sophomore Mya Hollingshed (11.7 ppg) round out the top-scorers.

About UCLA: The Bruins got out to a 3-5 start to the season and have since gone 10-4. UCLA started Pac-12 play 2-0 before dropping its next four. The Bruins have bounced back with four straight wins to get to 6-4 in the conference.

Last Time Out: The No. 4 Oregon Ducks hit its first five shots to start last Sunday's contest and there was no slowing them down. The Colorado women struggled to get to the basket throughout the contest, falling 102-43 inside Matthew Knight Arena. The Ducks shot 58.0 percent from the field, holding CU to 25.4 percent.

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Players Mentioned

Quinessa Caylao-Do

Lesila Finau

Mya Hollingshed

Kennedy Leonard

Alexis Robinson