Buffs Cage Jayhawks, Move on to Big 12 Quarterfinals

Thursday, March 5

Kansas City, Mo.

7 PM

Colorado

21-10,11-7Big 12

[11] Kansas

19-13,8-10Big 12

Kansas

Colorado

March 05, 2026 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Stats Colorado Quotes Donate to Women's Basketball

By: Macy Mohlenkamp, Athletic Communications Associate

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Colorado women's basketball team (21-10, 11-7 Big 12) defeated [11] Kansas (19-13, 8-10 Big 12), 55-48, at T-Mobile Center in the second round of the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Tournament on Thursday, Mar. 5.

The Buffaloes ended an early lead from the Jayhawks, and Colorado led Kansas by one after the first quarter. In the second, the Black and Gold scored twice as many points as the Jayhawks. Throughout the third and fourth quarters, Colorado maintained their lead, taking the second-round win, 55-48.

"I said to the team after 'that sure wasn't pretty, but in March, it doesn't have to be pretty as long as it goes in the win column,'" head coach JR Payne said. "I'm really proud of our team for how we competed tonight. It was definitely a battle. I thought it was a very physical game, and I thought our execution was really good, but just great team effort. Different people in foul trouble throughout the entire game, but players stepped up and played heavier minutes in some spots than they're used to. Really proud of our squad tonight."

Colorado had more rebounds (39-25), bench points (24-16), points off turnovers (16-14), assists (11-8) and blocks (6-3) than Kansas. The Buffs held the Jayhawks to 15% from the three-point line.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Kansas opened scoring in the first quarter with a three-point jumper (3-0, KU). Jr. G Zyanna Walker made a pull-up jumper before the Jayhawks made one of their own (5-2, KU). A shooting foul sent Sr. F Jade Masogayo to the line, where she made two free throws (5-4, KU). Jr. G Desiree Wooten assisted Fr. F Logyn Greer on a fastbreak layup, which put the Buffaloes in the lead (6-5, CU). A jumper from Kansas sent the teams into the media timeout (7-6, KU). KU scored a layup, but Jr. G Maeve McErlane and Wooten each scored a three-point jumper to put Colorado in the lead (12-9, CU). Kansas made two free throws to end the quarter, 12-11 (CU).

Sr. F Anaëlle Dutat scored a free throw to start the second quarter (13-11, CU). Fr. G Erianna Gooden extended the lead with a jumper, assisted by So. F Tabitha Betson (15-11, CU). After three Kansas points, the Buffaloes went on a 7-0 run from two Dutat layups and a three from Betson (22-14, CU). Fr. C Jade Crook put CU ahead by 10 with a layup off a turnover (24-14, CU). The Jayhawks were scoreless for six minutes before they made a jumper (24-16, CU). Colorado and Kansas traded pairs of free throws, with Betson scoring for the Buffs, to end the half, 26-18 (CU).

Kansas scored four points to start the second half, but Masogayo ended the scoring run with a free throw (27-22, CU). A layup and two free throws from Masogayo extended the Buffaloes' lead to nine (31-22, CU). The Jayhawks scored four points, but Colorado was unwavering as Greer made a second-chance layup and a three-point jumper to force a Kansas timeout (36-26, CU). Wooten made a layup, but KU scored three points to end the quarter, 38-29 (CU).

Greer started the final quarter with a three (41-29, CU). Kansas made two jumpers, but Dutat answered with a layup (43-33, CU). A free throw from McErlane was quickly followed by a pull-up jumper from the Jayhawks (44-35, CU). Betson assisted Wooten with a three-point jumper, and a layup from Kansas sent the teams into the media timeout (47-37, CU). Walker made a driving layup off a turnover, but KU scored a three-point jumper (49-40, CU). Colorado and Kansas each made a layup, with Wooten scoring for the Buffaloes (51-42, CU). Fouls sent both CU and KU to the line, where each team made one, including one from Masogayo (52-43, CU). The Jayhawks made a layup, but a free throw from McErlane kept the Black and Gold ahead by eight (53-45, CU). Kansas scored three points, but Walker scored two free throws to end the game, 55-48 (CU).

UP NEXT:

The Buffs remain in Kansas City, Mo., for the quarterfinals of the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Tournament. Colorado will take on No. 20/18 third-seeded Baylor tomorrow evening, Friday, Mar. 6, at 7 p.m. MT at T-Mobile Center. The game will be streamed on ESPN+, and fans can follow along via live stats links on CUBuffs.com.

PLAYER STATS:

Fr. F Logyn Greer recorded a career-high four blocks, as well as 10 points and six rebounds. Her four blocks are the most a Colorado player has had in a single-game this season.

So. F Tabitha Betson tallied five points, five rebounds, four assists, one block and one steal.

Jr. G Desiree Wooten had 10 points, four rebounds and four assists.

Sr. F Jade Masogayo reached eight points, six rebounds and two steals.

Sr. F Anaëlle Dutat saw seven points and six rebounds.

Jr. G Zyanna Walker saw six points and two assists.

Jr. G Maeve McErlane had five points and four rebounds.

Fr. C Jade Crook saw three rebounds and two points.

Fr. G Erianna Gooden scored two points, as well as one assist and one rebound.

5th C JoJo Nworie had one block and one rebound.

For the Jayhawks, S'Mya Nichols had 14 points, four steals and three assists.

POSTGAME NOTES:

The Buffs move to 36-36 all-time against the Jayhawks. This is CU's third win in a row against Kansas.

All-time, the Buffs move to 11-15 in Big 12 Tournament play and 42-38 in conference tournament games overall.

CU had more bench points (24-16), rebounds (39-25), assists (11-8) and blocks (6-3) than Kansas.

Head Coach JR Payne improves to 185-126 (.594) all-time.

This marks the Buffs' first win as a six-seed in conference tournament play in program history. This is the third time Colorado has been a six-seed in conference tournament competition.

In the second round of the Big 12 Tournament today (Mar. 5), the Buffs were the only higher seed to beat their lower-seeded opponent. [12] Kansas State beat [5] Texas Tech, [9] BYU overcame [8] Utah, and [10] Arizona State defeated [7] Iowa State.

Taking on No. 20/18 third-seeded Baylor next, Colorado is 0-1 against Baylor in the Big 12 Tournament. The Buffs are 8-15 against Baylor all-time. CU lost by four in a tight contest with then-No. 16 Baylor in Waco, Texas, earlier this season, 56-52 (Jan. 8).

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.