Buffs Draw No. 10 Ducks in Pac-12 Opener

Friday, December 4

Eugene, Ore.

3:00 PM

Colorado

Oregon

Photo by: Tony Harman

December 03, 2020 | Women's Basketball

Notes

CU takes on Oregon and Oregon State in first conference matchups

By: Seth Pringle, Assistant SID

EUGENE, Ore. – Whether it's in front of 10 thousand screaming fans or an empty gym, the Colorado women's basketball team got handed no favors when the Pac-12 Conference announced its league schedule. Right off the bat, the Buffaloes are set to take on the defending Pac-12 Champion Oregon Ducks on Friday (3 p.m. MT).

Colorado (2-0) enters the second week of the season, preparing for a pair of road tests against two of the top teams in the conference. The Ducks are No. 10 in the AP poll, while Sunday's opponent, Oregon State, is ranked No. 17.

"It will be a different environment I think," head coach JR Payne predicted. "They maxed out on about 11 thousand last year and that's a lot of people. I think it will be a different environment. They [Oregon] are a different ballclub, but still a really good basketball team."

In seasons past, Colorado would have had 10 or 11 non-conference games under its belt before jumping into the Pac-12 gauntlet. This year CU got to face Western Colorado and Air Force, picking up two convincing wins before shifting focus to league play.

"I don't think it's a challenge to compete," Payne continued. "I think we have enough veterans and impact players to compete. It is a challenge to play any Pac 12 team this early in the season, but it's the same challenge for every single team we're getting ready to play. They also only played two or maybe three preseason games. I think you know we're all in the same boat. We've all had a disjointed spring, summer and fall. I really preach to our team, the most important things we can do are stay healthy and have fun. There aren't a lot of teams that can do both of those things right now. We want to play great basketball, of course, but I think that staying healthy and having fun as a player are two crucial aspects right now in the during a pandemic and trying to do what we're doing."

The Buffs got 27-point and 42-point wins in the first week of the season, allowing all available players to get meaningful minutes. Senior Mya Hollingshed posted two double-doubles and freshman Frida Formann emerged as the team's second-leading scoring threat. Junior Lesila Finau impacted the assists (4.5 apg) and rebound columns (6.0 rpg) in her two starts.

"I think they [Western Colorado and Air Force] did get us ready," Finau explained. Maybe not in the sense of Pac-12 play, because it is our first Pac-12 game, but in the sense of playing together, seeing how we play as a team, seeing how our offense works and how we do on defense. I think just knowing what we need to do better each game was actually helpful in that way."

The new-look Ducks began the season with wins over Seattle U and Portland. The team is playing without Sabrina Ionescu and Satou Sabally, the first and second overall picks in the WNBA Draft, for the first time in four years. Their replacements seemed to be waiting in the wings. Taylor Mikesell is one of three Ducks to average double-figure scoring in two games (19.5). Erin Boley and Sedona Prince were both selected Preseason All-Pac-12 and Taylor Chavez, the league's reigning Sixth Player of the Year, also returns for 2020-21.

The No. 10 Ducks sill stand as a tall challenge, but it is something the Buffs are looking forward to this time around.

"Knowing that we didn't lose that many players and they lost their best three, I think it's important to know that we're hitting them early for a Pac-12 game but just as much as we are still coming together as a team. So are they. I think we have the potential to win," Finau expressed.

Game time is set for 3 p.m. MT on Friday. The game will be televised on the Pac-12 Network and can also be heard on the Colorado Radio Network with the TuneIn app.