Colorado University Athletics
Friday, January 5
Tucson, Ariz.
6:00 PM
Colorado
at
Arizona
Photo by: Serena Rodriguez
No. 5 Buffs Hit the Road for Two in the Desert
January 04, 2024 | Women's Basketball
Colorado opens against Arizona on Friday
TUCSON – The fifth-ranked Colorado women's basketball team hits the road for the first time in Pac-12 play, opening Arizona on Friday (6 p.m. MT). The Buffaloes will conclude the week at Arizona State on Sunday (Noon).
Colorado (11-1, 1-0 Pac-12) will look for its sixth straight win when it hits the court at the McKale Center against the Wildcats (9-4, 1-0 Pac-12). The Buffs haven't dropped a game since their loss to NC State to wrap up the Paradise Jam Classic back on Nov. 25. Since then the team has averaged 81.6 points per game while holding opponents to a 61.6 scoring average.
Three Buffs have averaged 14.0 points or more in the current five-game streak, led by Frida Formann's 16.2 points per game. Jaylyn Sherrod (15.4) and Aaronette Vonleh (14.0) round out the team's top scorers since Nov. 25.
"I'm really proud of our team," head coach JR Payne explained. "The last couple of weeks have been our best practices of the year. We obviously played well last weekend and executed a scout really well. Just focused, great practices. Great focus. Great talk. Great communication. We're in a really good headspace right now."
CU's defense has risen to the occasion of late, holding four of its last five opponents to under 70 points. The Buffs kept then No. 12 Utah well below its season scoring average in the Pac-12 opener last Saturday. The Utes entered the game averaging a Pac-12-best 93.3 points per game and left Boulder with its lowest scoring output of the season, 65 points. The Buffs also forced Utah into 20 turnovers, also a season-high for the Utes.
CU has totaled 69 steals and forced 101 turnovers in the last five games.
"We've always taken a lot of pride in our defense and to be honest, we weren't defending the way we wanted to or needed to to sustain success," Payne noted. "We've really prioritized our defense in practice and film sessions, calling people up to the standard of how we want to play defense. I think people kind of took it personally like, you're right, I'm not defending the way we need to,' and I love that coachability in our team."
Sherrod stepped into the spotlight this week, following her 34-point performance against Utah. It was the most points by a Buff against a ranked opponent since Tera Bjorklund also dropped 34 against No. 12 North Carolina in the 2003 NCAA Tournament.
It has been Colorado's depth that has been one of the keys to the team's success this season. The Buffs have had five different players lead the team in scoring this season and have handed out 20 or more assists nine times.
"The best thing about this team is how unselfish everyone is," Payne added. "No one cares whose night it is to shine and I think everyone recognizes that as a veteran-laden as we are and as deep as we are. Everybody's going to have a night where they play really well and all they care about is winning. I appreciate that everyone celebrated Jaylyn's success last week and the awards and all that, but she's the first one to say that nobody wins awards like this unless the team does well. She always gives credit to her teammates and I just love that chemistry."
The Buffs own a 19-10 record over the Wildcats but are 6-7 on the road. Arizona bested the Buffs last season in Tucson, 61-42. Tameiya Sadler led CU with 12 points in the loss.
Arizona State (8-5, 0-1 Pac-12) dropped its Pac-12 opener to Arizona, 91-52. The Sun Devils, who open the weekend against Utah, have lost three of its last four games.
For Colorado, wins on Friday and Sunday would mark CU's first sweep in the desert since Feb. 2013.
Both games will be televised on the Pac-12 Network. Cindy Brunson and Joan Bonvicini will have the call on Friday. Angela Taylor and Greg Mescall will be on duty on Sunday.
Cory Lopez and Carol Callan will be courtside for all the action on the Colorado Radio Network. Pregame coverage starts 30 minutes before tip-off.
Colorado (11-1, 1-0 Pac-12) will look for its sixth straight win when it hits the court at the McKale Center against the Wildcats (9-4, 1-0 Pac-12). The Buffs haven't dropped a game since their loss to NC State to wrap up the Paradise Jam Classic back on Nov. 25. Since then the team has averaged 81.6 points per game while holding opponents to a 61.6 scoring average.
Three Buffs have averaged 14.0 points or more in the current five-game streak, led by Frida Formann's 16.2 points per game. Jaylyn Sherrod (15.4) and Aaronette Vonleh (14.0) round out the team's top scorers since Nov. 25.
"I'm really proud of our team," head coach JR Payne explained. "The last couple of weeks have been our best practices of the year. We obviously played well last weekend and executed a scout really well. Just focused, great practices. Great focus. Great talk. Great communication. We're in a really good headspace right now."
CU's defense has risen to the occasion of late, holding four of its last five opponents to under 70 points. The Buffs kept then No. 12 Utah well below its season scoring average in the Pac-12 opener last Saturday. The Utes entered the game averaging a Pac-12-best 93.3 points per game and left Boulder with its lowest scoring output of the season, 65 points. The Buffs also forced Utah into 20 turnovers, also a season-high for the Utes.
CU has totaled 69 steals and forced 101 turnovers in the last five games.
"We've always taken a lot of pride in our defense and to be honest, we weren't defending the way we wanted to or needed to to sustain success," Payne noted. "We've really prioritized our defense in practice and film sessions, calling people up to the standard of how we want to play defense. I think people kind of took it personally like, you're right, I'm not defending the way we need to,' and I love that coachability in our team."
Sherrod stepped into the spotlight this week, following her 34-point performance against Utah. It was the most points by a Buff against a ranked opponent since Tera Bjorklund also dropped 34 against No. 12 North Carolina in the 2003 NCAA Tournament.
It has been Colorado's depth that has been one of the keys to the team's success this season. The Buffs have had five different players lead the team in scoring this season and have handed out 20 or more assists nine times.
"The best thing about this team is how unselfish everyone is," Payne added. "No one cares whose night it is to shine and I think everyone recognizes that as a veteran-laden as we are and as deep as we are. Everybody's going to have a night where they play really well and all they care about is winning. I appreciate that everyone celebrated Jaylyn's success last week and the awards and all that, but she's the first one to say that nobody wins awards like this unless the team does well. She always gives credit to her teammates and I just love that chemistry."
The Buffs own a 19-10 record over the Wildcats but are 6-7 on the road. Arizona bested the Buffs last season in Tucson, 61-42. Tameiya Sadler led CU with 12 points in the loss.
Arizona State (8-5, 0-1 Pac-12) dropped its Pac-12 opener to Arizona, 91-52. The Sun Devils, who open the weekend against Utah, have lost three of its last four games.
For Colorado, wins on Friday and Sunday would mark CU's first sweep in the desert since Feb. 2013.
Both games will be televised on the Pac-12 Network. Cindy Brunson and Joan Bonvicini will have the call on Friday. Angela Taylor and Greg Mescall will be on duty on Sunday.
Cory Lopez and Carol Callan will be courtside for all the action on the Colorado Radio Network. Pregame coverage starts 30 minutes before tip-off.
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