Monday, February 26
Los Angeles, Calif.
7:00 PM
Colorado
20-7,10-6Pac-12
45
at
53
UCLA
22-5,11-5Pac-12
1
2
3
4
F
Colorado
7
12
16
10
45
UCLA
17
12
11
13
53
Photo by: Serena Rodriguez
Colorado Comeback Falls Short at No. 8 UCLA
February 26, 2024 | Women's Basketball
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – No. 13 Colorado women's basketball fell 53-45 to No. 8 UCLA here Monday night at Pauley Pavilion in what was a defensive battle for the Buffaloes from start to finish.
Despite the Buffs (20-7, 10-6 Pac-12) forcing the Bruins (22-5, 11-5 Pac-12) into committing 24 total turnovers on the night, Colorado struggled on the other end offensively, shooting just 28.6% (16-for-56) from the field.
"We are definitely a resilient group," head coach JR Payne said after the tough loss. "No matter what, no matter when, no matter where, we're going to compete and fight and continue to play hard and things like that. But again, it is frustrating."
While Colorado's offense was sluggish at times, there were some bright spots defensively. The Buffs racked up 15 steals which helped them to score 21 points off UCLA turnovers.
Guards Jaylyn Sherrod and Kindyll Wetta combined for eight of those steals and three blocks. Sherrod led all Colorado players in scoring with 10 points. She added seven rebounds and four assists before fouling out of the game with under 30 seconds remaining.
Frida Formann had a great first half, scoring nine points on three 3-pointers, however, she was held scoreless in the final two quarters. Quay Miller picked up the scoring with all nine of her points coming in the second half.
CU made several large scoring runs and stops to get back in the game time and time again, but the Buffs' offense wasn't able to fully capitalize on those opportunities.
"I'm sure everybody's pretty frustrated," said Payne. "You couldn't not be. But that's not a bad thing if it spurs you to work a little bit harder or to tinker a little bit more or be self-reflective on ways that individually we can be better. I don't think that's a bad thing."
After its fourth straight loss, Colorado will look to get back on track at home against Washington on Thursday.
"Our only thought always is to figure things out," Payne stated. "Put your head down and work and figure out how we can be better. That's really the only solution.
"We have great players. We have great coaches. We just gotta be able to really put our heads down and figure out what's not working and make some adjustments and get it working again."
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Buffs got out to a slow start, scoring just two points in the first six minutes. Charlotte Whittaker recorded Colorado's first field goal on a putback layup with 3:29 remaining in the quarter to make it 8-4.
UCLA then went on a 7-0 scoring run as the Bruins went into the second with a 10-point lead.
CU opened the second quarter with eight unanswered points behind a fadeaway jumper from Sherrod and back-to-back 3-pointers from Formann. As a result, UCLA called a timeout while the Buffs came within two at 17-15.
It became a game of scoring runs as the Bruins went on a 10-0 run out of the timeout. Colorado trailed 29-19 at halftime after shooting just 6-for-28 in the first half. Colorado's 19 first-half points were its lowest scoring total in a half this season.
Miller scored the first seven points for CU to bring the Buffs within three, 29-26, out of the half. A layup from Tameiya Sadler gave Colorado its first lead of the night at 32-31 as part of a 13-2 run.
UCLA stepped up its defense following a media timeout, holding the Buffs to zero points for over four minutes. Vonleh ended the CU scoring drought when she converted on a tough AND-1 layup with 25 seconds remaining in the quarter. Colorado trailed 40-35 heading into the fourth.
With 5:22 left in the game, Vonleh cashed in two points from the free throw line to make it a three-point game at 46-43. After long scoring droughts for each team in the fourth quarter, UCLA hit a 3-pointer to put the Bruins up by six with under 1:30 to go.
UCLA's 24th turnover of the night gave the Buffs the ball with 43 seconds left while trailing 49-45. The Buffs couldn't manage to get any close in the final minute.
NEXT
No. 13 Colorado travels back to Boulder to play the Washington Huskies on Thursday, Feb. 29 at 7 p.m. MT.
Notes
The Buffs are now 8-16 all-time vs UCLA…now 3-8 all-time against UCLA on the road…First four-game losing streak for CU since Jan. 14-23, 2022…the last time Colorado scored under 50 points was against Washington State on March 3, 2023 (49 points)...Fewest points since scoring 42 at Arizona (Feb. 19, 2023)...Colorado shot a season-low 28.6 % (16-56)...CU's 16 FGM are the fewest since its 15 at Arizona (Feb. 19, 2023)...Colorado scored 21 points off of 24 UCLA turnovers…UCLA had 12 offensive rebounds and 9 second-chance points compared to CU's 13 offensive rebounds and two second-chance points…Sherrod's four assists put her past 600 career assists, becoming just the third player in CU history with 600 assists…Vonleh surpassed 800 points in her Colorado career…the Buffs' 19 first-half points were their lowest scoring half of the season.
Despite the Buffs (20-7, 10-6 Pac-12) forcing the Bruins (22-5, 11-5 Pac-12) into committing 24 total turnovers on the night, Colorado struggled on the other end offensively, shooting just 28.6% (16-for-56) from the field.
"We are definitely a resilient group," head coach JR Payne said after the tough loss. "No matter what, no matter when, no matter where, we're going to compete and fight and continue to play hard and things like that. But again, it is frustrating."
While Colorado's offense was sluggish at times, there were some bright spots defensively. The Buffs racked up 15 steals which helped them to score 21 points off UCLA turnovers.
Guards Jaylyn Sherrod and Kindyll Wetta combined for eight of those steals and three blocks. Sherrod led all Colorado players in scoring with 10 points. She added seven rebounds and four assists before fouling out of the game with under 30 seconds remaining.
Frida Formann had a great first half, scoring nine points on three 3-pointers, however, she was held scoreless in the final two quarters. Quay Miller picked up the scoring with all nine of her points coming in the second half.
CU made several large scoring runs and stops to get back in the game time and time again, but the Buffs' offense wasn't able to fully capitalize on those opportunities.
"I'm sure everybody's pretty frustrated," said Payne. "You couldn't not be. But that's not a bad thing if it spurs you to work a little bit harder or to tinker a little bit more or be self-reflective on ways that individually we can be better. I don't think that's a bad thing."
After its fourth straight loss, Colorado will look to get back on track at home against Washington on Thursday.
"Our only thought always is to figure things out," Payne stated. "Put your head down and work and figure out how we can be better. That's really the only solution.
"We have great players. We have great coaches. We just gotta be able to really put our heads down and figure out what's not working and make some adjustments and get it working again."
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Buffs got out to a slow start, scoring just two points in the first six minutes. Charlotte Whittaker recorded Colorado's first field goal on a putback layup with 3:29 remaining in the quarter to make it 8-4.
UCLA then went on a 7-0 scoring run as the Bruins went into the second with a 10-point lead.
CU opened the second quarter with eight unanswered points behind a fadeaway jumper from Sherrod and back-to-back 3-pointers from Formann. As a result, UCLA called a timeout while the Buffs came within two at 17-15.
It became a game of scoring runs as the Bruins went on a 10-0 run out of the timeout. Colorado trailed 29-19 at halftime after shooting just 6-for-28 in the first half. Colorado's 19 first-half points were its lowest scoring total in a half this season.
Miller scored the first seven points for CU to bring the Buffs within three, 29-26, out of the half. A layup from Tameiya Sadler gave Colorado its first lead of the night at 32-31 as part of a 13-2 run.
UCLA stepped up its defense following a media timeout, holding the Buffs to zero points for over four minutes. Vonleh ended the CU scoring drought when she converted on a tough AND-1 layup with 25 seconds remaining in the quarter. Colorado trailed 40-35 heading into the fourth.
With 5:22 left in the game, Vonleh cashed in two points from the free throw line to make it a three-point game at 46-43. After long scoring droughts for each team in the fourth quarter, UCLA hit a 3-pointer to put the Bruins up by six with under 1:30 to go.
UCLA's 24th turnover of the night gave the Buffs the ball with 43 seconds left while trailing 49-45. The Buffs couldn't manage to get any close in the final minute.
NEXT
No. 13 Colorado travels back to Boulder to play the Washington Huskies on Thursday, Feb. 29 at 7 p.m. MT.
Notes
The Buffs are now 8-16 all-time vs UCLA…now 3-8 all-time against UCLA on the road…First four-game losing streak for CU since Jan. 14-23, 2022…the last time Colorado scored under 50 points was against Washington State on March 3, 2023 (49 points)...Fewest points since scoring 42 at Arizona (Feb. 19, 2023)...Colorado shot a season-low 28.6 % (16-56)...CU's 16 FGM are the fewest since its 15 at Arizona (Feb. 19, 2023)...Colorado scored 21 points off of 24 UCLA turnovers…UCLA had 12 offensive rebounds and 9 second-chance points compared to CU's 13 offensive rebounds and two second-chance points…Sherrod's four assists put her past 600 career assists, becoming just the third player in CU history with 600 assists…Vonleh surpassed 800 points in her Colorado career…the Buffs' 19 first-half points were their lowest scoring half of the season.
Team Stats
CU
UCLA
FG%
.286
.417
3FG%
.294
.313
FT%
.800
.727
RB
28
38
TO
15
24
STL
15
7
Game Leaders
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
7
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
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