Colorado University Athletics
Top Performances Countdown: Sherrod Opens Pac-12 Career With A Bang
April 16, 2020 | Women's Basketball
She had played well through non-conference, but the Pac-12 is a whole different beast. On Dec. 29, CU's women's basketball team opened up conference play on the road in Utah. Jaylyn Sherrod was ready for her first big time competition.
The freshman scored 19 points and had 10 assists and seven rebounds to lead Colorado to an 80-70 win over the Utes in Salt Lake City, opening Pac-12 play with a win and improving the team to 12-0 on the season. It earns No. 12 on our countdown of top performances of 2019-20.
Sherrod had already established herself as the team's leader on the floor, despite it being her first season in the program. She entered Pac-12 play averaging 9.3 points and 5.3 assists as the starting point guard.
There was no time needed to adjust to the level of play in the Conference of Champions as she posted her first career double-double against Utah. She came out firing with several key buckets in the first quarter, including a 3-pointer during a 12-0 run as the Buffs led 23-15 at the first quarter break.
But after Utah tied the game early in the fourth quarter, the freshman took over, scoring seven points and hitting 3-of-4 at the free throw line to pull away and seal the win.
"Jaylyn watched so many Pac-12 games last year as a high school kid that she's prepared for this," head coach JR Payne said after the game. "She's totally fearless. She's excited. She's a type of person that rises to the challenge and she certainly did that tonight."
Sherrod's performance lifted the team to its first 12-0 start since the 2011-12, which was also the last time the Buffs won their Pac-12 opener. She went on to earn Pac-12 All-Freshman honors after averaging 9.9 points and 5.1 assists, while leading the team in assists and steals (39). Her 152 assists were the third-most ever for a CU freshman and the most since 1986.
Â
The freshman scored 19 points and had 10 assists and seven rebounds to lead Colorado to an 80-70 win over the Utes in Salt Lake City, opening Pac-12 play with a win and improving the team to 12-0 on the season. It earns No. 12 on our countdown of top performances of 2019-20.
Sherrod had already established herself as the team's leader on the floor, despite it being her first season in the program. She entered Pac-12 play averaging 9.3 points and 5.3 assists as the starting point guard.
There was no time needed to adjust to the level of play in the Conference of Champions as she posted her first career double-double against Utah. She came out firing with several key buckets in the first quarter, including a 3-pointer during a 12-0 run as the Buffs led 23-15 at the first quarter break.
But after Utah tied the game early in the fourth quarter, the freshman took over, scoring seven points and hitting 3-of-4 at the free throw line to pull away and seal the win.
"Jaylyn watched so many Pac-12 games last year as a high school kid that she's prepared for this," head coach JR Payne said after the game. "She's totally fearless. She's excited. She's a type of person that rises to the challenge and she certainly did that tonight."
Sherrod's performance lifted the team to its first 12-0 start since the 2011-12, which was also the last time the Buffs won their Pac-12 opener. She went on to earn Pac-12 All-Freshman honors after averaging 9.9 points and 5.1 assists, while leading the team in assists and steals (39). Her 152 assists were the third-most ever for a CU freshman and the most since 1986.
Â
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballWBB: Colorado vs. Kansas Highlights | February 1, 2026
Thursday, February 05
WBB: Colorado vs. West Virginia Highlights | February 4, 2026
Thursday, February 05
WBB: Colorado vs. KSU Highlights | January 30, 2026
Monday, February 02
WBB: Colorado vs. OSU Highlights | January 25, 2026
Sunday, January 25