Colorado spreads minutes out, cruises to victory against Morgan State

Colorado handled business against Morgan State in its season and home opener on Wednesday. (Photo by Devon Zisser/Sko Buffs Sports)

The Colorado Buffaloes Women’s Basketball team (1-0, 0-0 Big 12) easily handled the Morgan State Lady Bears (1-1, 0-0 MEAC) on Wednesday night, winning 83-38. Colorado played suffocating defense and spread minutes across their entire roster. 

In their home and season opener, the Buffs looked to make a statement against a mid-major opponent. 

Colorado finished the game shooting 49.2% from the field and 33.3% from deep on 18 attempts. They outrebounded the Lady Bears 46-32 and forced Morgan State to 19 turnovers. 12 different players scored points, and four players had ten points. 

Morgan State came off a 103-47 victory over NAIA opponent Washington Adventist. They staggered their minutes in this 56-point rout, letting 14 players get minutes, with 13 of them getting points. 

“Really proud of a lot of things we did tonight,” head coach JR Payne said after the game. 

The Buffaloes started off a little antsy, missing their first four shots. Center Jade Crook broke the streak, scoring a fast-break layup with seven minutes remaining in the first quarter. 

After the layup, the Buffaloes settled in. In the first quarter alone, they shot 8-for-17 (47%) from the field. Their short game was really working, as only one bucket came from deep, made by freshman guard Lauren Harris. 

By the end of the quarter, 13 different players had gotten minutes, and nine different players had scored points.

“Everyone that played deserved to play tonight,” Payne said. “Everyone on our team can play.”

On the defensive end, Colorado shut down the Lady Bears. After two early field goals, Morgan State missed 21 shots in a row, including eight from 3-point range. Colorado also forced seven turnovers. 

During the Lady Bears' scoring drought, the Buffs went on a 29-0 scoring run, shooting 11-for-20 in that span, with only one coming from deep. The scoring during this run was spread out, but forward Logyn Greer led the charge with two layups in the middle of the team's 7-for-7 streak. 

With 3:30 left in the second quarter, Morgan State Guard Mihjae Hayes made an and-one layup. The shot ended Morgan State’s 14-minute scoring drought.

Right before the half ended, Boston College transfer Anete Adler denied a midrange shot on the close end of the court. The 6-foot-5 center averaged 15.4 points per game last season before transferring to Colorado. She finished with 9 points on 44.4% shooting, one rebound and one assist in 17 minutes. 

At halftime, Colorado was in charge. It led 40-9, shooting 48.4% and out-rebounding the Lady Bears 28-16. Morgan State made only four shots from the field and had 9 turnovers. 

The Buffaloes spread their minutes out, with 12 total players scoring. Their leading scorer at halftime, freshman guard Cail Jahnke, had 6 points, while six other players had 4.

Morgan State had some early momentum in the third quarter, drilling two 3-pointers and a layup in the first 90 seconds. The 8-point flurry was against Colorado’s starters. 

Guard Zyanna Walker stifled the momentum, taking a backcourt steal and getting fouled on the fast-break layup, making both free throws. The All-Big 12 honorable mention finished with 11 points, a team-leading 7 rebounds and 2 assists in 16 minutes. Walker also went 9 for 10 on free throws, which ties her career high for attempts in a game. 

The third quarter moved a little bit slower for Colorado. Morgan State outscored the Buffs 18-17, while the Buffaloes had six turnovers to the Lady Bears’ three. In the third quarter alone, Morgan State tripled their score. 

Colorado had a relaxed fourth quarter and cruised to the win. This quarter featured guard Kennedy Sanders, Harris and Jahnke drilling a three each.

Last year, Sanders’ season ended early with a hip injury. In her first regular-season game back, she played 15 minutes with 7 points and 5 rebounds. 

“[It was] wonderful to see the amount of work that she’s put in to get healthy, overcome discomfort, challenges, rehab, and all of that,” Payne said.

Sophomore forward Logyn Greer led the team in points with 12, shooting 5-10 from the field and 1-2 from the line. 

Colorado’s two freshmen Harris and Jahnke finished with 10 and 11 points, respectively. “It was so much fun to get out in front of the Buff fans for the first time,” Jahnke said. 

After this game, Colorado stays home to face the Fresno State Bulldogs on Saturday at 1 p.m. MT. The game can be streamed on ESPN+.