Buffs Head Back on the Road for Bout With UCF

Sunday, January 18

Orlando, Fla.

12:00 PM

Colorado

UCF

January 16, 2026 | Women's Basketball

Colorado Notes Get Tickets Donate to Women's Basketball

By: Malala Pyle, Assistant Director of Athletic Communication

GAME #19 • Sunday, January 18 • 12 p.m. MT
Financial Arena, Orlando, Fla.
Colorado (12-6, 3-3 Big 12) vs. UCF (9-8, 1-5 Big 12)
TIP: 12:02 p.m. MT
WATCH: ESPN+ (https://buffs.me/45guk0V)
RADIO: Colorado Radio Network, 'Denver's Talk Station' AM 630 KHOW (Cory Lopez, Carol Callan)
LISTEN ONLINE: Sirius XM 84, and on the SiriusXM App, or at https://buffs.me/4shh5GY
LIVE STATISTICS: https://buffs.me/3NoKHSX
SERIES RECORD: Colorado Leads, 2-0 (1.000 CU)
LAST MEETING: W, 81-62 (January 8, 2025 • Boulder, Colo.)
STREAK: Won 2 • LAST 10 MEETINGS: 2-0

BOULDER – The Colorado women's basketball team (12-6, 3-3 Big 12) heads back on the road for a quick weekend bout with UCF (9-8, 1-5 Big 12) on Jan. 18 at Financial Area in Orlando, Fla., at 12 p.m. MT.

The Buffs will face the Knights for just the third time in program history – first time on UCF's turf – and boast an undefeated record all-time over Central Florida. The Black and Gold first met with UCF in 2008 for an 86-59 victory (Nov. 16), and last faced the Knights in the Buffs' first season back in the Big 12 last year, where CU won, 81-62 (Jan. 8, 2025).

This past Wednesday, the Buffs took on their third ranked opponent of the season in No. 19 Iowa State (Jan. 14). The Buffaloes upset the Cyclones in a close battle. With one second left in the first quarter, junior guard Desiree Wooten made a three-point jumper, bringing the Buffs within three of the Cyclones. The Black and Gold headed into the half down by four but came back to end the third quarter tied, 42-42. Colorado had an explosive fourth quarter, including back-to-back threes from sophomore forward Tabitha Betson, ending the game, 68-62 (CU).

TIP-OFF (TL;DR)

CU is led by 10th-year head coach JR Payne, who has led the Buffs to a 176-122 (.591) record as CU's eighth head women's basketball coach. Coach Payne has been extended through the 2028 season and has led the Buffs to three NCAA appearances, two WNIT appearances and one WBIT appearance.
In its second year back in the Big 12, Colorado was picked to finish ninth in the Big 12 Preseason Poll. Colorado is 112-152 (.424) overall in Big 12 conference play.
With the re-addition of So. F Tabitha Betson to the 2025-26 roster, the Buffs return four from last year's team, also including Sr. F Jade Masogayo, So. G Kennedy Sanders and 5th C JoJo Nworie. Betson returns from a semester at home with her family after some time to recharge.
Colorado welcomes 10 newcomers for the 2025-26 season, five transfers and five freshmen. The five transfers include Jr. G Zyanna Walker (Kansas State), Jr. G Desiree Wooten (North Texas), Jr. G Claire O'Connor (Gonzaga), Jr. G Maeve McErlane (DePaul) and Sr. F Anaëlle Dutat (Rhode Island). The five freshmen include G Erianna Gooden (Fork Smith, Ark./Northside H.S.), C Jade Crook (Albury, Australia/Basketball Australia Center of Excellence/Lake Ginninderra College), G Isa Hämäläinen (Lorentzweiler, Luxembourg/European School of Luxembourg 1), F Logyn Greer (Lansdowne, Pa./Friends' Central School) and F Sophie Zadel (San Antonio, Texas/Alamo Heights H.S).
Jr. G Desiree Wooten led the Buffs in their victory over No. 19 Iowa State with 24 points, a new season-high (Jan. 14). She also had four rebounds and two assists in her time on the floor. This marks Wooten's 12th game this season with double-digit points.
Sr. F Anaëlle Dutat is third in conference for rebounds per game with 8.9, second for total rebounds with 161, and leads the conference in total offensive rebounds with 69. She is also tied for 12th for steals per game (2.0). Dutat totaled 12 rebounds, nine points, two assists and one steal against the Cyclones (Jan. 14). This is Dutat's eighth game this season with double-figure rebounds.
Jr. G Zyanna Walker is eighth in conference for steals per game with 2.2. She is also 21st in the Big 12 for assists per game (2.8). Against No. 19 Iowa State, Walker had 10 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals (Jan. 14). This is Walker's 10th game this season with double-digit points.
Fr. F Logyn Greer is tied for 19th in conference for blocks per game with 0.8. Greer finished that bout with the Cyclones with five rebounds and one block (Jan. 14).
Sr. F Jade Masogayo was the Buffs' third player in double-figure points against the Cyclones, finishing with 15 points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals (Jan. 14). This was Masogayo's 10th game this season with double-digit points.
As a team, the Buffs are third in the Big 12 for steals per game (10.83), fourth for offensive rebounds (14.1), fifth for rebounding margin (7.7), sixth for rebounds per game (39.2), sixth for free throw percentage (73.3), seventh for scoring defense (59.6) and seventh for turnover margin (2.72).

ROAM WITH THE BUFFS: The Buffs' game at UCF will be streamed on ESPN+. The Buffs are on the radio via the CUBuffs.com website and Varsity app for every game. The pregame show, Buffs Warm-up, starts a half-hour before tip and includes a pregame interview with Coach Payne. At halftime, stay tuned for a get-to-know interview with players and coaches. Colorado broadcasts on the iHeart Radio station, 'Denver's Talk Station' AM 630 KHOW. Available on the Varsity app. Fans can also follow Colorado games through live stats with links available at CUBuffs.com.

MILESTONE WATCH: So. F Tabitha Betson has 192 points, eight away from 200. Fr. C Jade Crook has 77 points, 23 away from 100. Fr. F Logyn Greer has 95 rebounds, five away from 100, and 176 points, 24 away from 200. Sr. F Jade Masogayo has 94 career steals, six away from 100, and 185 assists, 15 away from 200. Jr. G Maeve McErlane has 89 rebounds, 11 away from 100, and she has 181 points, 19 away from 200. Jr. G Desiree Wooten has 186 assists, 14 away from 200, and 772 points, 28 away from 800.

DOUBLE OR NOTHING: At Oklahoma State, Sr. F Anaëlle Dutat had her 10th career double-double and fourth of the season with 10 points and 12 rebounds (Jan. 14). This was the Buffs' fifth double-double on the season.

ASSISTED BY: The Buffs have had double figures in assists in all but one game this season (vs. Wyoming, Dec. 7). CU has had 20 or more assists twice -- 20 versus Boise State (Nov. 18), and 20 against Arizona (Dec. 31). Colorado is averaging 14.3 assists per game as a team.

GIMME THAT!: Colorado has had 12 games this season with 10 or more steals as a team, averaging 10.8 steals per game.

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.