Colorado
3-0,0-0Pac-12
Oklahoma State
2-1,0-0Big 12
Buffs Use Second-Half Comeback To Spur Cowgirls
November 12, 2023 | Women's Basketball
BOULDER – The 20th-ranked Colorado women's basketball pulled off a come-from-behind victory to take down Oklahoma State 86-75 at the CU Events Center Sunday evening. The Buffaloes used a late 13-3 run to help erase a seven-point second-half deficit and stay undefeated on the season.
Despite the Cowgirls (2-1) hitting 15 three-pointers, the Buffaloes' (3-0) defense down the stretch translated into points on the offensive end, helping Colorado overcome its largest deficit so far this season.
"I'm really proud of our response tonight when things weren't really going our way," head coach JR Payne said after the win. "We were not playing great basketball and we found a way to make some adjustments. Everyone stuck together, everyone was just focused on doing what we needed to do to be successful. Different people with really big plays down the stretch."
The Buffs recorded eight steals in the first quarter, establishing an early lead, however, a 16-2 run by Oklahoma State in the second gave the Cowgirls the lead at halftime.
Oklahoma State continued to cash in from behind the arc in the third quarter, hitting seven more triples. But the Buffs managed to stay in the game and trailed by just three heading into the fourth.
When it mattered most, CU rallied behind Kindyll Wetta, Jaylyn Sherrod and Frida Formann as they accounted for 21 of Colorado's 30 fourth-quarter points. The Buffs made 8-of its final-9 field goals and held the Cowgirls to just 16 points in the final quarter to secure the win.
Wetta scored 15 points off the bench, tying her career high in points, totaling eight in the final period. She also had five rebounds and a steal while committing just one turnover the entire game.
"I don't think it's really a switch," Wetta said of her fourth quarter. "I'm here to catch the ball and just play basketball. I caught it. I was open and I shot the ball and made it. Then the ball came to me on defense. It's not always flipping a switch. It's just being sound like Coach [Payne] said and being reliable; just doing what I know I can do."
The Buffs were close to having two players pick up a double-double as Sherrod was just one assist shy of 10 assists to go with her 16 points and five steals. Quay Miller recorded her 14th career double-double at Colorado with 13 points and 10 boards.
CU had a total of 15 steals on the night and outrebounded the Cowgirls 38-24. A big difference maker for the Buffs their 25 trips to the free-throw line while Oklahoma State had only six.
3,931 of the Buffs faithful filled the Events Center on Sunday bringing an energy to the building that hasn't been felt in some time.
"It was incredible," Payne said of the crowd. "I will look into the camera and say 'Buff Nation, come to our games.' It is really good basketball. We have a great team, and we compete. We are a group that you should be proud of. The environment and fan support today were absolutely awesome. Coming out of timeouts, the energy when we made a run, was just like you're saying, unlike anything we've ever experienced here at CU. We need to keep it going and grow it even more."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Trailing 39-35 at the half, CU opened the third quarter making its first three shots to tie things up at 41-41. OSU jumped back out ahead, 47-41 before a Sara-Rose Smith 3-pointer brought the Buffs back within three.
The Cowgirls fought back again, this time putting CU in its largest hole of the season, trailing 51-44 with 4:45 to play in the quarter. Colorado closed the third quarter going 5-for-6 from the field and cut the OSU lead to three, 59-56.
Miller had two straight makes to get the lead back for the Buffs to open the final quarter, 60-59. It wasn't until a Vonleh layup with just over five minutes to play that the Buffs would firmly grasp the lead at 68-66.
Key 3's from Formann and Wetta opened up a late 10-point advantage, 79-69, and brought the crowd to its feet, eliminating any chance of an OSU comeback.
The Buffs started the first quarter by making 5 of its first 8 shots and taking a 12-6 lead. Shortly after, Oklahoma State responded with a 5-0 scoring run to come within one while Colorado went on a 3:24 scoring drought.
Approaching the final minute of the quarter, Sherrod knocked down two free throws to put the Buffs up 21-16. Maddie Nolan then hit a 3-pointer following a Cowgirls turnover with 34 seconds remaining. Colorado led 24-16 heading into the second.
Oklahoma State made back-to-back threes midway through the second quarter to force a Buffs timeout. CU held a 30-24 lead at the break. After the timeout, the Cowgirls continued their success and took the lead at 34-32 while Colorado surrendered a 16-2 scoring run.
The Buffs trailed 35-39 at the half. Oklahoma State had seven three-pointers, five of which came in the second quarter.
KEY MOMENT
With 3:53 remaining in the game, Sherrod drove the basket and made an acrobatic AND-1 layup. She knocked down the free throw and gave the Buffs a five-point lead at 74-69.
NOTES
Colorado is now 28-26 all-time against Oklahoma State…now 489-185 at the CU Events Center…attendance for the game was 3,931…highest attendance for a non-conference game since Dec. 29, 2012, vs New Mexico (5,305)…highest attendance since Feb. 19, 2017, vs Oregon on Senior Day (3,988)…first time with 85+ points in three straight games since Nov. 28-Dec. 5 of 2014-15 season (87, 87, 97)...first time Colorado had 5+ players score 10+ points since Feb. 23, 2022, vs No. 25 Oregon...the Buffs outscored the Cowgirls 26-13 in the final eight minutes.
UP NEXT
Colorado women's basketball has almost a full week before its next game against SMU on Saturday, Nov. 18.
