Buffs Overwhelm Bears to Advance to Big 12 Tournament Semifinal

Friday, March 6

Kansas City, Mo.

7 PM

Colorado

22-10,11-7Big 12

[3] Baylor

24-8,13-5Big 12

Colorado

Baylor

Buffs Overwhelm Bears to Advance to Big 12 Tournament Semifinal

March 06, 2026 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Stats Big 12 Tournament Tickets Donate to Women's Basketball

By: Macy Mohlenkamp, Athletic Communications Associate

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Colorado women's basketball team (22-10, 11-7 Big 12) defeated No. 20/18 third-seeded Baylor (24-8, 13-5 Big 12), 62-53, at T-Mobile Center in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Tournament on Friday, Mar. 6.

The Buffaloes came into the quarterfinals with energy, scoring early threes that put them ahead by as many as 12 in the first quarter. Colorado carried its momentum into the second quarter, ending the half with that same 12-point lead. Baylor tried to come back throughout the second half, but the Bears were unsuccessful as the Buffs advanced to the semifinal round of the Big 12 Tournament. CU also broke its 11-game losing streak against Baylor.

"Really proud of how we played tonight. I thought we were very prepared and very excited for this opportunity," head coach JR Payne said. "Sometimes in the Big 12, when you only get to play someone once, and in that one time, you don't perform the way you wish you had, sometimes you don't get to play that game again for an entire year. So this was a really great opportunity for us because we were frustrated with the way we finished the one game we did play with Baylor this year. We were just really excited for the opportunity to play them again. Just overall great team effort. It wasn't perfect in any sense of the word, but I thought we did exactly what we needed to do to be successful."

Colorado had more bench points (32-24), defensive rebounds (25-23), second-chance points (9-5), fast break points (9-0), assists (11-10) and steals (7-5) than Baylor. The Buffaloes held the Bears to a 14% three-point field-goal percentage, their lowest of the season.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

The Bears scored the opening basket with a pull-up jumper (2-0, BU). Sr. F Anaëlle Dutat responded with two jumpers to put the Buffs in the lead (4-2, CU). Jr. G Desiree Wooten came onto the court and made a pull-up jumper off a turnover, sending the teams into the media timeout with Colorado ahead by four (6-2, CU). Baylor made a layup after a five-minute scoring drought (6-4, CU). A foul sent Jr. G Zyanna Walker to the line, where she made one free throw, but Baylor quickly followed with a layup (7-6, CU). Fr. F Logyn Greer made a pair of free throws, and a steal by Walker allowed her to score a layup (11-6, CU). The Black and Gold extended their run to 10 with two three-point jumpers from So. F Tabitha Betson and Wooten (17-6, CU). Baylor made two jumpers, and Wooten made a step-back three to end the first with the Buffs ahead of the Bear by 10 (20-10, CU).

Baylor made two free throws early in the second, but Wooten made her third three of the game to keep CU ahead by 11 (23-12, CU). Two free throws from Wooten were answered with a layup from the Bears (25-14, CU). Colorado went on a 6-0 run from a Greer pull-up jumper, a free throw from Sr. F Jade Masogayo and a three-point jumper from Walker (31-14, CU). Baylor had the opportunity to score three free throws, but Greer ended the Bears' scoring with a layup to put Colorado ahead by 16 (33-17, CU). Baylor scored one free throw and a layup, but a foul allowed Walker to make two free throws (35-20, CU). After the Bears scored one of two free throws, Wooten assisted Fr. G Erianna Gooden on a layup (37-21, CU). Baylor made a jumper and two free throws to end the half, 37-25 (CU).

Colorado started the second half with back-to-back baskets, with Masogayo scoring a layup in the paint and Walker making a jumper off a turnover (41-25, CU). The Bears scored a three-point jumper, and Masogayo assisted Walker on a jumper (43-28, CU). Colorado and Baylor each made layups, including one from Walker, to keep the Buffaloes ahead by 15 (45-30, CU). Wooten ended a 5-0 run from the Bears with a second-chance jumper, and Greer quickly followed with a fast break layup, as well as an and-one free throw (50-35, CU). Dutat scored a free throw after Baylor made a jumper (51-37, CU). Baylor made a three, but the quarter ended with a Wooten layup and a Walker free throw (54-40, CU).

Baylor scored five points at the beginning of the final quarter, sending Colorado into a timeout (54-45, CU). The Bears made a layup, but Wooten ended their scoring run with a layup in the paint (56-47, CU). Colorado and Baylor traded baskets, including a step-back jumper from Walker and a pull-up jumper from Wooten (60-51, CU). The Bears made a free throw, and Walker followed it with one for the Buffs (61-52, CU). After one more free throw from each team, with Walker scoring for Colorado, the Buffaloes took the win, 62-53.

UP NEXT:

The Buffs are in Kansas City, Mo., for the semifinals of the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Tournament. Colorado will take on No. 15 [2] West Virginia tomorrow evening, Saturday, Mar. 7, at 4:30 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 saw nine points, four rebounds and one block.

So. F Tabitha Betson had three points, three rebounds, one block and one steal.

Jr. G Desiree Wooten tallied 21 points, five rebounds and three assists.

Sr. F Jade Masogayo totaled six rebounds, three points, one block and one assist.

Sr. F Anaëlle Dutat reached six rebounds, five points, three steals and two assists.

Jr. G Zyanna Walker recorded 19 points, four rebounds, two steals and two assists.

Fr. C Jade Crook had two rebounds and one steal.

Jr. G Maeve McErlane had three assists, and Fr. G Erianna Gooden scored two points.

For the Bears, Taliah Scott scored 14 points and had two rebounds.

POSTGAME NOTES:

The Buffs move to 9-15 all-time against the Bears and 1-1 in conference tournament play versus Baylor. This win snaps an 11-game losing streak to Baylor.

All-time, the Buffs move to 12-15 in Big 12 Tournament play and 43-38 in conference tournament games overall.

Colorado had more bench points (32-24), defensive rebounds (25-23), second-chance points (9-5), fast break points (9-0), assists (11-10) and steals (7-5) than Baylor. The Buffaloes held the Bears to a 14% three-point field-goal percentage, their lowest of the season.

Head Coach JR Payne improves to 186-126 (.595) all-time.

This marks the Buffs' second 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.

Taking on No. 15 [2] West Virginia next, Colorado has never met with the Mountaineers in the Big 12 Tournament. The Buffs are 1-2 against No. 15 [2] West Virginia all-time. CU lost by six in a tight contest with then-No. 20 West Virginia at home, 61-55, earlier this season (Feb. 4).

This will be the fourth time the Buffaloes have competed in the semifinals of the Big 12 Tournament.

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.