Colorado escapes Arizona, wins fourth straight
- Jake Chau
- 16 minutes ago
- 2 min read
It might not have been pretty, but the Colorado Buffaloes (19-8, Big 12 10-5) pulled out a neck-and-neck win against the Arizona Wildcats (11-15, Big 12 2-13), winning 78-70 while seemingly exercising their fourth-quarter demons.
The Buffs shot 55% from the field, their second-highest mark of the season, led by senior forward Anaëlle Dutat, who scored a career-high 20 points and brought down six boards.
Sophomore forward Tabitha Betson added 15 points on 75% shooting, while junior guard Zyanna Walker put down 13, also on 75% shooting.
Senior forward Jade Masogayo fouled out after scoring eight points in 20 minutes.
Colorado out-rebounded the Wildcats 37-17, including 10-2 on offensive boards. It was the fewest rebounds given up in CU history.
Both teams went back-and-forth in the first quarter while Wildcat guard Sumayah Sugapong went 3-for-4 on 3s while Colorado went 3-for-4 as a team.
The Buffs still led 23-19 after the first frame as Betson led with five points.
The second frame painted much of the same picture, with the Buffs and Wildcats trading buckets. Graduate guard Noelani Cornfield led the Wildcats to within one into the locker room, 36-35.
Colorado out-rebounded Arizona 13-3 in the third quarter and capitalized on being in the bonus for three and a half minutes, getting to the charity stripe 11 times.
Junior guard Desiree Wooten, Dutat and Walker combined for 15 points in the period for the Buffs. Sugapong, who recorded 14 points and hit four total 3s, fouled out during the third quarter for Arizona. Cornfield stepped up, putting down 11 in the third frame as both teams struggled to regain the lead.
Arizona jumped ahead on a buzzer-beating 3 from Cornfield, 57-56.
The Wildcats began to pull away with a 10-2 run in the first stretches of the fourth quarter, jumping ahead 67-60.
But the Buffs responded with a 13-2 run, scoring on six of their next seven possessions, powered by Betson and Walker’s four points each.
An Arizona free-throw cut the Colorado lead to three with a minute left, but Dutat closed it out with two layups and a free throw, icing the game 78-70.
Colorado, which has been struggling in fourth quarters this season, put doubts to bed on the road, limiting Arizona to just 10 shots across the quarter and forcing seven turnovers despite being down as much as seven points. It was CU's fourth straight road win in Big 12 play.
“That was not the prettiest game I don't think any of us have been a part of,” head coach JR Payne said. “But really proud of our team for our resiliency and our execution down the stretch.”
Colorado’s next game will be at home at the CU Events Center against No. 20-ranked Texas Tech. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. MT (ESPN+).