Buffs ready to dance among Big 12 heavyweights

Colorado Buffaloes women's basketball will need forward Jade Masogayo (#14) to once again come alive in Big 12 play this season. (Photo by Fidel Gonzalez/Sko Buffs Sports)

By Xavier Michnewicz and Jake Chau

The runway is getting shorter in Boulder. 

Colorado Buffaloes women’s basketball has spent its non-conference schedule hovering near takeoff, flashing talent and potential, but the Big 12 doesn’t wait for anyone at cruising altitude. 

Missing the cut for March a season ago, head coach JR Payne and the Buffaloes know the math is unforgiving. Big 12 wins aren’t resume boosters; they are lifelines. 

The Buffaloes wrapped up non-conference play with a 9-3 record, with every loss coming before December, a milestone of the wrong kind. It’s the first time that CU had three defeats before December in the coach Payne era. Most notably, Colorado was handed its third loss in last-second fashion to the Montana State Bobcats.

On the bright side, Payne’s offseason additions have been leading the charge. Freshman forward Logyn Greer leads the Buffaloes with 11.6 points per game alongside six rebounds.

Rhode Island transfer Anaelle Dutat leads the glass effort with 8.3 rebounds per game while scoring 9.7 per matchup. Kansas State transfer Zyanna Walker paces the Buffaloes in assists and steals with 3.2 and 2.5, respectively. 

Among the returners, Jade Masogayo has dealt with the injury bug, averaging 9.5 points per game. She has come on recently, scoring 19  and 17 points in her last two outings. 

However, the same thing that plagued the Buffaloes a season ago remains: turnovers. Colorado turns the ball over 16.5 times per game, seventh most in the Big 12. 

The Buffaloes’ schedule doesn’t get any easier from here on out. Colorado faces the No. 9-ranked TCU Horned Frogs, No. 10 Iowa State Cyclones and No. 15 Baylor Bears. Alongside the ranked squads, CU faces all Big 12 teams receiving votes in the AP and coaches’ poll in Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, West Virginia and Arizona State. 

Conference play will be the deciding factor in Colorado’s postseason fate. The pieces are in place for Colorado to make a push, but execution will determine how far the team goes. 

Arizona State Sun Devils (13-0)

First-year Arizona State coach Molly Miller has her Sun Devils on the right track after a sluggish last few seasons. (Photo via Arizona State Athletics)

Colorado opens up Big 12 play with an on-fire Sun Devils squad.  ASU is led by sixth-year Penn State transfer Gabby Elliott, who averages 16.4 points per game. The grad transfer helped the Sun Devils to a narrow victory over Gonzaga, scoring a season-high 30 points. 

ASU's undefeated start is propelled by its defensive effort, allowing 54.5 points per game and forcing 21.8 turnovers, second-most in the Big 12. The Sun Devils faced four teams with a losing record, and only one Power Five squad in Penn State. 

Arizona Wildcats (9-2)

The Wildcats were picked to finish 14th in the Big 12 after a transfer portal exodus last offseason. Arizona lost all three of its top scorers from last season and is feeling them. The Wildcats were upset by a 2-5 Southern University squad, which carried over to their next loss to the New Mexico Lobos. 

The Wildcats are led by Cleveland transfer Michayla Perdue, who averages 17.9 points per game. Buffalo Bulls transfer Noelani Cornfield handles the rock with 7.9 assists per game and 2.7 steals alongside 14.3 points per game. Arizona also shoots 49.3% from the field and averages 79.8 points per game, marks that rank in the top five of the Big 12. 

Other than two losses, Arizona tuned up nicely against the rest of its non-conference schedule. The Wildcats beat opponents from conferences such as the Big West and SWAC, winning by an average of 17.5 points.  

The Buffaloes face the Wildcats twice, in their Big 12 home opener on New Year’s Eve and their fourth-to-last game of the season. 

Cincinnati Bearcats (5-7)

Cincinnati started the season winless through three games before picking up its first win over an NAIA team, Georgetown (Kentucky), 100-61. The Bearcats have been spotty since, going 4-4 with wins over New Mexico and UNLV and losses to Xavier and Howard.

Only one of their top three scorers from last season returned in junior guard Reagan Jackson, who also took a step forward from her 9.2 points per game to 12.3 points this season. The team is led by FAU transfer Mya Perry, who averages 18.2 points while adding 2.3 assists and 1.9 steals per game. 

Still, the Bearcats’ field goal percentage is the lowest in the Big 12, 42.1%, while allowing the highest percentage of field goals at 40.9%. This recipe has Cincinnati with the second-to-last scoring margin in the Big 12, only scoring 6.2 points more than their opponents.

Colorado will start the new year in Boulder against the Bearcats on Jan. 3 at 1 p.m. MT.

Baylor Bears (11-2)

Former Auburn guard Taliah Scott is top 10 in the nation in scoring with the Baylor Bears this season. (Photo via Baylor Athletics)

While talent has left the Bears, new talent has come in, all while loading their non-conference slate with three ranked teams. The Bears opened their season defeating No. 7 Duke 58-52 before running into No. 19 Iowa and dropping 57-52. Baylor’s second loss came in blowout fashion at the hands of No. 2 Texas, 89-54. 

Still, Baylor has proven it can hang around with good teams. That’s in no small part because of Auburn transfer guard Taliah Scott. She enters conference play averaging 22.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. 

In the front court is senior forward Darianna Littlepage-Buggs, who has worked in the Bears’ offense for the past four years. Littlepage-Buggs has taken a step back on the scoresheet from last season, averaging 9.9 points per game compared to her 13.8 points per game last season, but head coach Nicki Collen will live with her 10.7 rebounds per game and six double-doubles this season.

Colorado will travel to Waco to play the Bears on Jan. 8.

Oklahoma State Cowgirls (11-2)

One of the most well-rounded teams in the Big 12 this year is Oklahoma State, with seven players averaging double digits. 

Oklahoma State is guard-heavy, as six of its seven players averaging double-digit points are in the backcourt. But it works, as no other Big 12 team has scored more than them at 93.8 points per game.

Junior guard Stailee Heard led the team in points per game last year with 16.8, but has taken a step back, only averaging 10.4 points per game this year. Senior guard Micah Gray has picked up the slack, putting down 15 points per game.

However, the Cowgirls only played two teams from power conferences and lost to unranked St. John’s.  

The Buffs have a home-and-home with the Cowgirls, playing in Stillwater on Jan. 11 and in Boulder on Jan. 25.

Iowa State Cyclones (12-0)

Iowa State comes in as the 10th-best team in the AP Poll ahead of Big 12 play and sits at a perfect record. Wins over Indiana and No. 11 Iowa have them right in the national spotlight. 

At the center stands Audi Crooks, a junior forward who averaged 23.4 points per game in her 2024-25 campaign. She has taken another step forward, leading the nation in scoring at 27.8 points per game on 72.2% shooting through her first 11 contests. She has tallied over 30 points four times, including a 47-point performance against Indiana.

Fellow junior forward Addy Brown has rounded out success for the Cyclones by adding 14.5 points, 9.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists. Brown has four double-doubles and one triple-double.

Colorado will host the Cyclones and Crooks at the CU Events Center on Jan. 14.

UCF Knights (8-3)

UCF fought through non-conference play but didn't emerge unscathed, suffering two losses to non-power programs. (Photo via UCF Athletics)

With the departure of guard Kaitlin Peterson to Ole Miss, the Knights have been looking for their identity in their non-conference slate. Dropping games to Charlotte, Wake Forest in overtime and Stetson proves the Knights have more soul-searching to do.

Miami transfer and sophomore guard Leah Harmon have done the heavy-lifting for the UCF offense, putting down 16.9 points each this season. UCF remains middle-of-the-pack for nearly every statistical category among Big 12 teams, but holds the second-worst assist-to-turnover ratio, at just 0.83 assists to every turnover.

Colorado will travel to Orlando to play UCF on Jan. 18. 

Kansas State Wildcats  (7-6)

One of the most tested teams in the Big 12 remains in rough waters, as Kansas State dropped nearly half of its non-conference slate. Some losses it’d like to have back, such as a 72-71 loss to South Dakota, a 77-72 loss to Texas A&M or a 47-44 loss to Green Bay. But the Wildcats can hang a 61-60 win over No. 13 Ole Miss on their resume heading into conference play.

Part of the reason the Wildcats sit at 7-6 is that they hang out in the bottom five among scoring offense and scoring defense in the Big 12, ranking second-worst in scoring margin.

Junior guard Taryn Sides leads the offense with 14.5 points and 5.2 rebounds per game while shooting 44.4% from the 3-point line.

Colorado will be on the road in Manhattan against the Wildcats on Jan. 29.

Kansas Jayhawks  (10-2)

The Jayhawks will go as far as S’mya Nichols takes them. The junior guard has led Kansas to a 10-2 record, facing a strong non-conference schedule. Through 12 games, Nichols was the leading scorer in eight of them, including a 40-point outing in their first loss. The 6-foot guard also paces the team with 4.8 assists per game.

Of their non-conference slate, the Jayhawks faced four Power Five schools, all with a combined record of 36-11. The best team on their schedule is also one of their only losses, to the undefeated Georgia Lady Bulldogs, when Nichols dropped a 40 burger. 

Besides Nichols, Kansas is led by freshman forward Jaliya Davis, who averages 17.7 points on 64.5% from the field. The Jayhawks also brought in Indiana transfer Lilly Meister, who is averaging a near double-double with 9.1 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. 

The Buffaloes stay on the road after their matchup against K-State, facing the Jayhawks on Feb. 1. 

West Virginia Mountaineers (10-2)

Guard Gia Cooke transferred to West Virginia from Houston and has found success, leading the Mountaineers with 16.3 points per game. (Photo by Benjamin Powell/The Dominion Post)

As one of the best defensive teams in the Big 12, the Mountaineers have gone from unranked to ranked and then back to unranked through their non-conference schedule. Notably, West Virginia upset then No. 15-ranked Duke in its fourth game of the season with just five active players. 

The Mountaineers then spent five games ranked before dropping from the AP Poll after back-to-back losses to Ohio State and Villanova and a 46-point win over Mercyhurst. 

WVU forces the most turnovers in the Big 12, with opponents giving the ball up 24.3 times per game. 

The Mountaineers boast a squad built by the transfer portal. Houston transfer Gia Cooke leads West Virginia, averaging 16.3 points, while Norfolk transfer Kierra Wheeler averages 13.9 points and 7.3 rebounds. 

The Buffaloes face the Mountaineers on Feb. 4 at the CU Events Center.

TCU Horned Frogs (12-0)

The last remaining Big 12 team in March Madness last year looks to continue its reign, as TCU started a perfect 12-0 heading into conference play. While they’ve only played one team from a power four conference, the Horned Frogs beat No. 10 NC State 69-59, putting them as the ninth–best team in the nation.

The Horned Frogs take on a new look this year after leading scorer Hailey Van Lith was selected 11th overall in the WNBA draft. This year is led by a pair of fifth-year seniors, forward Marta Suarez and guard Olivia Miles. Both Suarez and Miles transferred into TCU, and the fit has been seamless, as both average over 18 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. Miles also tacks on the nation’s third-best assist tally at 7.9 per outing.

They lead the offense to score more than 88 points per game, good for third in the Big 12, while also holding teams to just 49 points per game – the best margin in the conference.

Colorado will host the Horned Frogs at the CU Events Center on Feb. 8.

Houston Cougars  (6-5)

With the third-most losses in the Big 12, Houston is not among the heavyweights. The Coogs lost games to Rice, SF Austin, Arkansas State, Southern and New Mexico. 

Houston lost all three of its leading scorers from last season and relied heavily on the portal to rebuild. However, the newcomers are not adding much to the team. The closest player to averaging double digits for the Coogs is Texas transfer Kyndall Hunter with 9.8 points per bout. 

Ranking at the bottom of the conference in points per game, field goal percentage, 3-point percentage, assists and turnovers is not a recipe for success. 

The Buffaloes go on the road to the Fertitta Center on Feb. 11.

BYU Cougars (11-1)

BYU looks to enter the March Madness fray this season, but it will be tough without talented guard Delaney Gibb. The sophomore is currently missing time with a foot injury. (Photo by Jaren Wilkey/BYU Athletics)

The Cougars’ lone defeat came against No. 17 Vanderbilt, the only ranked opponent on their non-conference schedule. They faced only one other Power Four opponent, a four-point win over Virginia Tech. 

BYU ranks in the bottom three of the conference for field goal percentage and 3-point percentage, but has the second-most rebounds per game with 43.6. The Cougars are led by last season’s Big 12 Freshman of the Year in Delaney Gibb, who averages 16.3 points and 6 assists. However, she's currently suffering from a foot injury and is out indefinitely.

Colorado takes on BYU first at the CU Events Center on Valentine’s Day and in Provo to end its season on Feb. 28.

Texas Tech Lady Raiders  (13-0)

The Lady Raiders rank in the middle of the pack in terms of the Big 12’s major statistical categories despite their undefeated record. Texas Tech only faced one Power Four squad, handing Mississippi State its only loss. 

Texas Tech is led by senior Bailey Maupin, scoring 14.8 points per game. Campbell transfer Gemma Nunez controls the ball with 5.3 assists and 2.6 steals per game. In the key, junior Jaylnn Bristow leads the Lady Raiders with 14 points alongside 7.4 rebounds per matchup. 

Colorado hosts Texas Tech in its penultimate home game on Feb. 21. 

Utah Utes (9-3)

Boasting a 9-3 record is impressive for Utah, considering the strength of opponents on their schedule. Two of the Utes' losses came against a pair of dogs in the now No.22-ranked Washington Huskies and No.1-ranked UConn Huskies. 

The Utes also faced some of the Mountain West’s best teams in Colorado State and Boise State, capturing victory in both. The Utes only have one player averaging double digits in Virginia Tech transfer Lani White, who returned to the team after spending her first two years with Utah. The 6-foot senior averages 13.2 points per game on 45.8% from the field. 

The Buffaloes face Utah in their last home game on Feb. 24.