Colorado University Athletics
Colorado
Southern Utah
Colorado Hosts Southern Utah
December 06, 2022 | Women's Basketball
Tip is set for 6 p.m. MT
BOULDER – The 7-2 Colorado Buffaloes return home to the CU Events Center for its only game of the week on Wednesday. CU will host Southern Utah (6 p.m. MT) before jumping momentarily into Pac-12 play next week.
Three of Colorado's last four games have been on the road, with only a brief layover coming last week when Western Michigan came to town. CU is 2-2 on the road this season but remains perfect (4-0) in front of the home crowd.
"This preseason has been really challenging, but I love that our team is rising to the challenge of having to go on the road so much," head coach JR Payne explained. "We're excited to be here for more than a week. I think we're here for nine days and excited to play at home, although we only have one [game] and then we're back on the road again. It's great to be here going into finals in the next few weeks. Everyone's just happy to be able to get settled and do what we need to do here."
Colorado's defense has been nearly impenetrable over the last three games. Opposing offenses are averaging just 39.0 points per game in CU's last three wins. Chicago State, Western Michigan and Boise State have combined for 65 turnovers in the last three games.
Offensively, the Buffs are averaging 76.3 points per game in the last three games and 74.6 points on the season.
"We just want to have balance," Payne added. "No matter whom we are playing, no matter what their size looks like or athleticism. We want to try to have balance in what we're doing offensively."
Southern Utah (3-5) enters Wednesday's game ranked 4th in the NCAA with 47.8 rebounds per game. SUU's Lizzy Williams is 9th in the nation in blocks per game (2.8) and double-doubles (5). She also leads the Western Athletic Conference and is 11thin in the NCAA in rebounding (11.5 rpg).
"We just want to play fearlessly," Payne noted. "We assume she [Williams] is going to block some shots. She blocks a lot of shots. It doesn't really matter to us. We just want to be aggressive going to the basket, whether that's guards attacking or post players finishing inside. Having great balance and being able to share the ball is really important."
The Buffs have won the battle on the glass in six of their nine games this season and each of the last three games. Colorado averages almost 10 fewer rebounds (38.1) per game than the Thunderbirds, making for a tough task on Wednesday. Quay Miller leads CU with 8.1 boards per game.
"I think ever since we knew we were going to Tennessee, we've been harping on rebounding," Payne commented. "We prioritize it [rebounding] practice. This game will be no different. It's just going to keep building on our focus to be the better rebounding team. This will be a huge test for us."
Coverage of Wednesday's game will start with pregame on the Colorado Radio Network, the Varsity app and CUBuffs.com/listen at 5:30. The game will be streamed online at CUBuffs.com/WatchWBB.
The first 100 fans in attendance will receive a Colorado basketball mug.
