Greer, Masagayo power Buffs to fourth straight win ahead of Big 12 play

Colorado Buffaloes forward Jade Masogayo is gaining steam into Big 12 play, scoring 17 points in a win over Northern Colorado on Tuesday. (Photo by Coleton Tanner/Sko Buffs Sports)

The non-conference slate is just a walk, but the Colorado Buffaloes are prepared to run. That’s how they wrapped up their last game of the non-conference slate – four runs of 8-0 or better, while extending their winning streak to four and taking down the in-state rival Northern Colorado Bears (8-3) 79-62 on Tuesday.

Freshman forward Logyn Greer led scorers with 18 points, but the 17-point win came as an all-around effort for the Buffs. It included senior forward Jade Masagayo’s 17 points and five rebounds, as well as senior forward Anaëlle Dutat’s nine points and seven rebounds.

“I thought everyone who came in tonight came in and contributed in a meaningful way,” head coach JR Payne said. “I’m also really proud of them in particular for having a slow start, but having the emotional fortitude to not allow that to impact the next 25, 30 minutes.”

Even while pulling away, Colorado finished with 24 turnovers, matching its season high. 

“You can’t turn the ball over this many times in the Big 12 and expect to have consistent success,” Payne said. “I thought overall, a great showing for our final game [before conference play].” 

Junior guard Maeve McErlane got the energy going early, putting down a bank-shot 3-pointer to beat the shot clock, but a two-and-a-half-minute drought allowed Northern Colorado to tie the score at five.

As the Buffs (9-3) continued to push the pace, the drought went away with back-to-back layups from Greer and junior guard Desiree Wooten.

Defensive prowess was on full display for both sides, as the Buffs trailed in the turnover battle six to seven after the first quarter, but the Buffs led where it mattered most, 14-11.

Consecutive jumpers from Northern Colorado to start the second quarter put the Bears back on top, 15-14, before Greer and Masagayo took over the game, contributing to a 9-0 run, including a tough and-one from Greer. 

Dutat continued to feed Greer down low, firing a 24-foot pass on a rope that found its way into the basket, pushing the Colorado lead to 10. 

Wooten followed it up with a 3-pointer of her own, pushing the Buffs’ run to 14-0 and forcing a Northern Colorado timeout.

UNC got two quick buckets out of the break but got into foul trouble, allowing Colorado to spend nearly four minutes of the second quarter in the bonus.

The Buffs used it to help fuel an 11-0 run with five points coming off free throws, pushing their lead up to 21.

Despite a foul on a 3-point attempt, CU outscored UNC 26-11 in the second quarter, putting them ahead 40-22 at halftime.

The Buffs came out of the locker room with intensity, putting down consecutive layups while holding UNC without a field goal for over seven minutes, spanning back to the second quarter. 

Eventually, it was sophomore Claire Fraser who drained a 3-pointer that ended the streak for the Bears. Colorado responded with an 8-0 run to extend its lead to 25.

Colorado took a 58-38 lead into the final frame.

Another 8-0 run in the middle stages of the fourth quarter, consisting of and-ones from Dutat and Greer, all but put the game away.

Colorado cruised through the final seven minutes, taking home the win.

Greer was holding her right side after her final basket and sat out the final eight minutes after being fouled. She also took an elbow to the face in a separate incident, which was upgraded to a flagrant foul in the third quarter.

Colorado will open Big 12 play this Sunday, heading to Arizona State (13-0) to take on the Sun Devils. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. MT and will be streamed live on ESPN+.