Buffs Fall to Sun Devils in Conference Opener, 79-63

Sunday, December 21

Tempe, Ariz.

5:00 PM

Colorado

9-4,0-1Big 12

Arizona State

14-0,1-0Big 12

Colorado

Arizona St.

December 21, 2025 | Women's Basketball

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By: Malala Pyle, Assistant Director of Athletic Communication

TEMPE, Ariz. – The Colorado women's basketball team (9-4, 0-1 Big 12) fell to Arizona State (14-0, 1-0 Big 12), 79-63, at Desert Financial Arena on Sunday, Dec. 21.

The Buffs started slow in their Big 12 opener but overcame a 16-point first-quarter deficit to the Sun Devils. CU outscored Arizona State in the second and third quarters to decrease the Sun Devils' lead. However, ASU went on a run late in the fourth quarter to take the game, 79-63.

"I'm actually really proud of our resilience and our ability to fight back," head coach JR Payne said. "It takes a tremendous amount of energy to claw your way back out of that and we did […] What it took out of us to get to that place, sort of ended our ability to finish the game. We certainly can't start games like that in conference, but really proud of our resilience to get out of that."

The Buffs had more points in the paint (36-28), points off turnovers (28-25), offensive rebounds (10-5) and steals (14-9) than the Sun Devils.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Sun Devils were the first to score from a shot beyond the arc and a layup two minutes in (ASU, 7-0). After a pull-up jumper from ASU, Masogayo put the Buffs on the board with a layup (ASU, 7-2). Back-to-back Sun Devil three-pointers and a layup forced the Buffs to take a timeout (ASU, 15-2). Masogayo recorded a layup, and Dutat followed by scoring her first basket (ASU, 17-6). With help from a jumper and a layup from Wooten and a basket from beyond the arc from Betson, the Buffs narrowed the Sun Devils' lead (ASU, 22-13). Walker closed out the quarter for CU with a jumper (ASU, 26-15).

Colorado cut the lead down to single digits early with a Dutat layup off an ASU turnover (ASU, 26-17). Masogayo and AD each netted another layup, and AD and Wooten each had a jumper (ASU, 33-25). Crook managed a layup off an ASU turnover with just under four minutes to go in the first half (ASU, 33-27). After a layup and a free throw from the Sun Devils, Crook sank another layup, and Walker ended scoring in the first half with a pull-up jumper (ASU, 39-31).

The Buffs came out of the gate hungry in the second half, with Walker scoring from beyond the arc and AD netting a layup on a fast break less than a minute in (ASU, 41-36). Dutat made it to the line and laid in two free throws, and Masogayo scored on a spinning layup to take ASU's lead down to five (ASU, 45-40). Wooten made it rain from deep, closing in on the Devils (ASU, 45-43). ASU went on a 6-0 run, and Walker got to the line for two free throws (ASU, 51-45). Masogayo and Walker each made layups to keep the Buffs in it and ended the third (ASU, 56-49).

Masogayo went to work laying it up and in and scoring a jumper (ASU, 58-53). Walker followed up with a bucket from deep, assisted by Masogayo (ASU, 58-56). Wooten made it to the line and had two free throws to follow an ASU three (ASU, 63-58). The Sun Devils made it back to the line twice for another four points and made a three-pointer to re-extend their lead and force a Buffs timeout (ASU, 70-58). Greer made two layups, assisted by Walker and Dutat (ASU, 72-62). Walker ended a five-point Sun Devils run with a free throw (77-63, ASU). Arizona State made a final jumper to end the game, 79-63 (ASU).

UP NEXT:

The Buffs will return to the CU Events Center on Wednesday, Dec. 31, to face Arizona in their conference home opener. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. MT. The game will be streamed on ESPN+, and fans can follow along via live stats links on CUBuffs.com.

PLAYER STATS:

Jr. G Zyanna Walker led the Buffaloes with 15 points, two rebounds, one assist and one steal.
Sr. F Jade Masogayo recorded 14 points, four assists, two rebounds and one steal.
Sr. F Anaëlle Dutat tallied 12 points, seven rebounds, five steals and two assists.
Jr. G Desiree Wooten saw 11 points, three rebounds, three steals and two assists.
So. F Tabitha Betson scored three points, and had two rebounds, two steals and two assists.
Fr. C Jade Crook saw four points and three rebounds.
Fr. F Logyn Greer saw four points and one rebound.
Jr. G Maeve McErlane had two steals and two assists.
Fifth C JoJo Nworie and Fr. G Erianna Gooden had one rebound each.
Fr. F Sophie Zadel had one assist.
For the Sun Devils, McKinna Brackens scored 18 points and had five rebounds.

GAME NOTES:

The Buffs move to 15-17 all-time against the Sun Devils.

All-time, the Buffs move to 109-150 in Big 12 play.

CU had more points in the paint (36-28), points off turnovers (28-25) and steals (14-9) than the Sun Devils.

For more information on the Colorado women's basketball team, a complete schedule and results, please visit CUBuffs.com. Fans of the Buffs can follow the team on Instagram and on Twitter @CUBuffsWBB.