Colorado Caps Series with Utah on Friday

Friday, January 17

Boulder, Colo.

6:30 PM

Colorado

Utah

Photo by: Tim Benko, Benko Photographics

January 16, 2020 | Women's Basketball

Game Notes

CU looks for the sweep over the Utes

By: Seth Pringle, Assistant SID

BOULDER — Colorado concludes its current three-game homestand against Utah on Friday (6:30 p.m. MT). The Buffaloes and Utes have already matched up once this season, opening Pac-12 play with an 80-70 Buffaloes' win in Salt Lake City.

CU will go for the sweep of the Utes for the first since 2015. CU's 10-point win in Salt Lake City to start the conference season was a coming-out party for freshman Jaylyn Sherrod. The rookie point guard was named the Pac-12's Freshman of the Week after posting 19 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds against the Utes.

The Buffs needed to get off to a strong start against the Utes. The first meeting came right in the middle of a five-game road trip. The Buffs also knew that its No. 2 and No. 3 Oregon and Oregon State were waiting in the wings.

"We're thrilled to be at home," head coach JR Payne said. "It was hard to play five straight road games and three straight in the Pac-12 to open is difficult for any team. We're thrilled to be at home in our beds and with our fans. We had great attendance last weekend and hoping to be able to do the same this week."

Colorado led by Utah 42-30 at halftime but Utah came out hot in the third quarter, scoring 28 points to slim CU's lead to three. CU's defense shut down the Utes in the fourth quarter, holding them to 25.0 percent (2-8) from the floor. The Buffs had issues with Utah freshman, Lola Pendande. She was 9-for-9 from the field at the end of the third quarter and finished the day with 20 points.

Payne was happy with the team's exaction following the game but would like to see some improvements going into Friday.

"We need to do a better job matching up and in transition," Payne explained. "They [Utah] hurt us in transition when we were miscommunicating or just simply not matched up. We need to be able to contain [Lola] Pendande more effectively than we did the first time."

The Buffs had their ups and downs against the No. 8/9 Bruins last Sunday. Colorado trailed by 25 points late in the third quarter, before using an 11-0 run to close the period. CU scored 22 points in the fourth quarter to cut the UCLA lead all the way down to two, before closing the afternoon.

"I think the biggest thing is just understanding that we're capable of playing that way," Payne continued. "A lot has happened in between that game and this one. It's not really about carrying it over but more about just everyone understanding that if they maximize their effort and their role - if they can be great in their role, then we have an opportunity to play great basketball. I think that's what we were doing in the fourth quarter [against UCLA]."

Friday is Pride Night at the CU Events Center. Fans can purchase a general admission ticket for $12 and receive an exclusive pride beanie. To purchase visit CUBuffs.com/Promo and use the code PRIDE.

All of Colorado's Pac-12 games will be televised on the Pac-12 Network this season. You can also catch the game on the Colorado Radio Network with the TuneIn app.

This Date in History
Friday's game marks the 45th anniversary of Colorado's first collegiate women's basketball game. Colorado hosted Weber State on Jan. 17, 1975. The Buffs won 57-54 in overtime.