Colorado University Athletics
Colorado
23-7,12-5Pac-12
Oregon State
13-18,4-14Pac-12
Buffs Take Care of Business to Start Pac-12 Tournament
March 03, 2023 | Women's Basketball
Colorado moves on to the semifinals against Washington State
LAS VEGAS – Third-seeded Colorado defeated No. 11 Oregon State 62-54 in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 Tournament late Thursday night to advance to the Pac-12 semifinals for the second consecutive season.
CU overcame a nine-point deficit against the No. 11 Beavers to improve to 9-11 all-time in the Pac-12 Tournament. Thursday was the largest comeback for the Buffs in a Pac-12 Tournament game. The win was Colorado's 23rd of the season, marking the most since going 25-7 in the 2012-13 season.
The Buffaloes struggled early on in the game and found themselves in a tough spot as OSU shot lights out from 3-point range, making 6-of-9 in the first half. Colorado was able to produce enough in the second quarter to tie the game 33-33 at halftime before exploding both offensively and defensively in the third.
"That was not the prettiest game we've ever been a part of, but I think what we all witnessed was two teams that are just going to fight and scrap and do everything they can to win the game," head coach JR Payne stated. "I was just telling these guys in the hallway, really proud of how we never lost our cool. We kept our composure through Oregon State's hot shooting, through some cold spells for us offensively and we just never really got too flustered. I love that about this team. So really proud of being able to win and keep going."
After giving up 20 points in the first quarter, Colorado's defense allowed just 21 total points in the entire second half. The third quarter was crucial for CU as the Buffs outscored the Beavers 18-8 in the quarter. Jaylyn Sherrod was the catalyst on defense, especially in the second half.
"We really take a lot of pride in our defense. I don't know that we were particularly great today defensively, but we typically take a lot of pride in our defense," Payne emphasized. "We believe that every single player on our team can guard. I don't know that it was one person that made a difference. But Jaylyn certainly can be disruptive on the basketball."
Oregon State shot better than Colorado, statistically, from the field, 3-point range and the free-throw line, however, turnovers killed the Beavers on the night. OSU committed 17 turnovers which turned into 18 points for CU on the other end of the floor.
The Buffaloes' offense was led by Frida Formann, Aaronette Vonleh, and Sherrod as they all scored double-digit points. Sherrod totaled seven rebounds, two assists and two steals, adding to her 12 points while Formann led all players in scoring with 16 points. Vonleh closed right behind Formann with 15 points.
Colorado will take on No. 7 Washington State in the Pac-12 semifinals on Friday at 9:30 p.m. MT. The Cougars upset No. 2 Utah today after beating No. 10 Cal in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament.
"We truly believe that any team in this league can beat any team in this league. And that's saying something when you have typically five or six top-25 teams," said Payne. "I think you can play a team that's going to be unbelievably athletic on a Friday night and the next day maybe not as athletic but so skilled in scheme X and O so well that it challenges you as a player to be able to make those types of adjustments. It challenges you as a coach. But I think without a doubt it's the best women's basketball conference in the country."
How It Happened
The Buffs jumped out to an 8-7 lead before the first media break with Formann having half of the team's points. Shortly after the timeout, Oregon State took a 12-10 lead but then both teams didn't score for about two minutes. Vonleh ended the drought with a made free throw and then the Beavers hit 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions to go up 18-13. Senior Tayanna Jones hit a jumper for Colorado with 29 seconds remaining in the quarter, but Oregon State responded with a stepback jumper with two seconds left, to take a 20-15 lead into the second quarter.
Oregon State stayed hot from 3-point range in the second and jumped out to its largest lead of the night, 27-18, in the opening two minutes of the quarter. CU cut the lead to within five points, 27-22, as the Buffs' defense held Oregon State to zero points over a two and half minute span. The Buffs got all the way back to even, 33-33, with free throws from Sherrod and a 3 by Formann to close the half on a 6-0 scoring run.
Quay Miller had zero points at halftime, however, the Buffs still outscored the Beavers 16-6 in the paint.
CU and Oregon State both started slow in the third quarter. The Buffs outscored the Beavers 7-4 in the first four minutes before OSU took a timeout while trailing 40-37. Out of the timeout, Colorado continued its momentum, scoring three more points to take a six-point lead at 43-37 with 5:12 remaining in the quarter.
Later on, Vonleh converted a layup as the Buffs took their largest lead of the game, 51-39, in a 15-2 run before another OSU timeout. Colorado outscored OSU 18-8 in the quarter and led by 10, 51-41, at the start of the fourth.
Scoring was slow once again to start the fourth quarter as the Buffs led 56-45 with 5:20 left to go in the game. After a CU timeout, Oregon State knocked down a 3-pointer to come within eight points of Colorado. Sherrod put the Buffs up by 10 with a layup, but the Beavers responded with another 3-pointer with just under two minutes remaining in the game.
Another late 3-pointer brought OSU within four points at 58-44. But the Buffs held on in the end with Formann hitting 4-of-5 at the line to secure the win and advance to Friday.
Key Moment
Kindyll Wetta came up with a momentum-shifting steal in the third quarter that led to a wide-open 3-pointer from Sherrod to put the Buffs up 47-39. It was a part of CU's 15-2 run that took the Buffs from down 37-36 to a 51-39 lead over four and half minutes...CU outscored OSU 10-0 in fastbreak points...Colorado's seven turnovers were its fewest in 20 Pac-12 Tournament games.
Notes
Friday will be CU's fourth appearance in the Pac-12 semifinals (2013, 2015, 2022)...CU is 2-0 all-time against OSU in the Pac-12 Tournament...CU now has three Pac-12 Tournament wins in the last two seasons (had just one in from 2016-21)...CU's seven turnovers were the fewest by the Buffs in 20 Pac-12 games...The Buffs outscored OSU 10-0 on the fastbreak and 18-4 off turnovers...Thursday was Vonleh's 21st game in double figures...Formann's 16 points tied her career-best in the Pac-12 Tournament.
