Buffaloes Subdue Wildcats, 78-70

Tuesday, February 17

Tucson, Ariz.

6:00 PM

Colorado

19-8,10-5Big 12

Arizona

11-15,2-13Big 12

Colorado

Arizona

February 17, 2026 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Stats Quotes Get Tickets Donate to Women's Basketball

By: Macy Mohlenkamp, Athletic Communications Associate

TUCSON, Ariz. – The Colorado women's basketball team (19-8, 10-5 Big 12) defeated Arizona (11-15, 2-13 Big 12), 78-70, at the McKale Center on Tuesday, Feb. 17.

The Buffaloes played a close first half against the Wildcats, seeing six lead changes in the first 20 minutes. Colorado ended the second quarter ahead by one, but Arizona took the lead in the final seconds of the third. After going down by seven in the fourth, the Buffs came back to win the game, 78-70.

"I just want to start by tipping my hat to Arizona," head coach JR Payne stated. "What an incredibly resilient, well-coached, hard-nosed team. I thought that was a great battle. I think that type of battle shows you how great the Big 12 conference is. I'm proud of our conference, proud of how well teams are competing down the stretch. But man, that was not the prettiest game I don't think any of us have been a part of, but really proud of our team for our resiliency and our execution down the stretch."

Colorado had more points in the paint (50-26), rebounds (37-17), second chance points (20-1) and assists (15-12) than Arizona.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Colorado opened scoring in the first quarter with a layup off the glass from Jr. G Zyanna Walker (2-0, CU). After a layup from the Wildcats, So. F Tabitha Betson assisted Sr. F Anaëlle Dutat on a layup (4-2, CU). Arizona went up by one from a three-point jumper, but Colorado responded with a second-chance layup from Walker and a three-point jumper from Fr. F Logyn Greer, assisted by Betson (9-5, CU). The Wildcats made another three before the Buffs went on a 5-0 run from a Dutat layup and a three-point jumper from Jr. G Desiree Wooten (14-8, CU). The teams went to the media timeout and returned to the court for a three from each, with Betson scoring for CU (17-11, CU). The Wildcats scored three points before the Buffs went on a four-point run from two Betson free throws and a layup from Sr. F Jade Masogayo (21-14, CU). The quarter ended with a three-point jumper and a layup from the Wildcats, as well as a layup from Masogayo (23-19, CU).

The Wildcats tied the game early in the first two minutes of the second quarter, but an and-one layup from Crook put the Buffs ahead (26-23, CU). Arizona made a jumper to bring the Wildcats within one of Colorado (26-25, CU). The Buffaloes and the Wildcats began trading layups, with Masogayo and Wooten scoring for CU (30-29, CU). Arizona took the lead from a hook shot and two free throws, but Betson ended the run with a layup (33-32, UA). The Wildcats made a jumper, but the Buffaloes took the lead with layups from Betson and Dutat to end the first half, 36-32 (CU).

An early foul sent Walker to the line, where she made one free throw (37-35, CU). The Wildcats made a three, but Colorado went on a 5-0 run from an and-one layup from Jr. G Maeve McErlane and a jumper from Walker (42-38, CU). A foul allowed Arizona to score two free throws (42-40, CU). Dutat made one free throw, and Wooten followed up with a fast-break layup (45-40, CU). The Wildcats took the lead, but Dutat put the Buffs ahead again with a layup (47-45, CU). Colorado and Arizona traded pairs of free throws, with Masogayo scoring for CU (49-47, CU). Dutat and Wooten were sent to the line for two free throws each following back-to-back fouls (52-47, CU). A free throw and a jumper brought Arizona within two, but a layup from Wooten, assisted by Fr. G Erianna Gooden, kept CU ahead (54-50, CU). The Wildcats tied the game, but Walker made a second-chance layup (56-54, CU). Arizona made a buzzer-beater three to end the third up by one (57-56, UA).

Betson opened scoring in the fourth with a layup, assisted by Walker (58-57, CU). Dutat ended a 6-0 run from the Wildcats with two free throws (63-60, UA). Colorado called a timeout after four Arizona points, and the Buffaloes returned to the court for a Betson jumper and a Walker layup (67-64, UA). Betson extended CU's run to six with a layup, assisted by Wooten (67-66, UA). Arizona made a layup, but Colorado found its momentum, and Greer tied the game with a layup and free throw (69-69). Betson assisted Walker and Dutat on layups to take the lead (73-69, CU). The Wildcats scored a final free throw, but Colorado closed out scoring with five points from Dutat, ending the game 78-70 (CU).

UP NEXT:

The Buffs will return home to face No. 20 Texas Tech on Saturday, Feb. 21, for senior day. CU will honor senior forwards Jade Masogayo and Anaëlle Dutat. 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:

Sr. F Anaëlle Dutat scored a career-high 20 points. She also had six rebounds, two steals and one assist. This is her second consecutive game setting a career-high in points.

So. F Tabitha Betson recorded a season-high 15 points, as well as five rebounds and four assists.

Jr. G Zyanna Walker had 13 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Jr. G Desiree Wooten tallied 10 points, three assists and two rebounds.

Sr. F Jade Masogayo tallied eight points, four rebounds, two steals and one assist.

Fr. F Logyn Greer saw seven rebounds, six points, two assists and one steal.

Fr. G Erianna Gooden had two rebounds and one assist.

Jr. G Maeve McErlane and Fr. C Jade Crook scored three points each.

For the Wildcats, Noel Cornfield had 25 points and eight assists.

GAME NOTES:

The Buffs improve to 24-10 all-time against the Wildcats. CU has now won five in a row in the series.

All-time, the Buffs move to 119-154 in Big 12 play.

CU had more rebounds (37-17), second-chance points (20-1), points in the paint (50-26) and assists (15-12) than Arizona.

With Arizona's 17 rebounds, this is both the fewest number of rebounds the Buffs have held an opponent to, and it's the fewest rebounds the Wildcats have had in a game this season.

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.