Rebounding, defense fuels Colorado’s upset of No. 20 Texas Tech

Colorado defeated No.20 Texas Tech on Saturday, capturing it's third ranked win. (Photo by Nick Rauscher/Sko Buffs Sports)

With March hopes hanging in the balance, the Colorado Buffaloes (20-8, 11-5 Big 12) snuck past the No. 20-ranked Texas Tech Lady Raiders on Saturday, 75-68.

It was a neck-and-neck battle, with each squad having three or more players score double figures. Guards Zyanna Walker and Desiree Wooten led the Buffaloes with 18 and 16 points, respectively. On senior day, senior forward Anaelle Dutat scored 11 points and converted six second-chance points from five offensive rebounds. 

Texas Tech (24-5, 11-5 Big 12) shot 66.7% through three quarters, but was held to just nine points in the fourth and 22% from the field.

Colorado’s reserves also poured in 32 points, but its glass effort was the difference-maker. The Buffaloes held the Lady Raiders to 18 rebounds, tying the second-fewest allowed in program history. On the offensive boards, Colorado turned 17 offensive rebounds into 17 second-chance points.

The win moved Colorado into a tie for fourth place in the Big 12 with Texas Tech and bolstered its NCAA Tournament resume with a third victory over a ranked opponent.

“I’m sure everybody knows that we’re sort of neck-and-neck with a bunch of people near the top [of the Big 12], but we didn’t talk about it,” head coach JR Payne said. “I really like that we’re so focused on just [doing] our job, execut[ing] the game plan … when we do that, it allows us to stay present.” 

The start of the first quarter set the tone for the next two, as the Lady Raiders laced back-to-back 3-pointers for an early six-point lead. Texas Tech drilled 5-of-6 from deep in the opening period and shot 72.7% from the field. But after a Dutat layup, Walker knotted the game by splitting two free throws and a 3-pointer of her own.

Colorado and Texas Tech traded two 6-0 runs, with the Buffaloes staying close thanks to 10 points off turnovers. Seven of those came from Wooten and freshman forward Logyn Greer to pull the Buffs within one. Greer finished with 13 points and hit her only 3-pointer in the first quarter, coming off a Wooten steal during that stretch.

Walker tied the game again by making one of two free throws, but after two more lead changes, Texas Tech took a four-point advantage on a buzzer-beating layup.

The second quarter was more back-and-forth action, with Colorado taking a four-point lead midway through on a behind-the-back feed from Wooten to Greer and a Dutat putback.

The Buffaloes kept the Lady Raiders’ guns holstered, with Walker picking off a steal as Texas Tech brought the ball up the court. She took it the other way to give Colorado a three-point lead at halftime. 

After seven lead changes in the first six minutes of the third quarter, Colorado went cold, and Texas Tech took advantage. The Lady Raiders used an 8-0 run over 1:46 to push their lead to seven and force a Buffalo timeout. Texas Tech guard Denae Fritz then converted an and-one after the break to extend the Lady Raider lead to a game-high eight.

Forward Tabitha Betson ended the run with a layup, but Colorado was staring down a six-point deficit heading into the final period. 

However, the Buffaloes stampeded back and tied it up after a steal from Wooten and a fastbreak layup by Walker. Wooten and Texas Tech then traded free throws, keeping the tie with six minutes remaining. 

Colorado locked their heels and shut down the Lady Raiders, retaking the lead from another Dutat putback. Walker and senior forward Jade Masogayo knocked down four free throws to extend the Buffaloes’ lead to a game-high of six with two minutes left. Masogayo ended with seven points on senior day. 

“Basketball is a game of runs. The game is not over until the last horn,” Wooten said of the Buffaloes’ fourth-quarter mindset. “We ain’t going to lay down to no one.” 

Texas Tech hit two free throws before Greer threw a lackadaisical pass to Walker.  Texas Tech drew up a play for lead-scoring guard Bailey Maupin, who drilled a 3 to put the Lady Raiders back within one with 1:30 left to play.

Wooten then drained a floater to push Colorado’s lead back to three, and Masogayo forced a turnover on the other end. Dutat and Wooten added a few more freebies to secure the seven-point victory.

“We really believe in ourselves down the stretch, and we believe in each other,” Payne said. “We believe in our execution … We are just really feeding into that. We believe that we’re going to be successful.” 

Colorado stays home to take on the Utah Utes in its second-to-last game on Tuesday. Tip-off from the CU Events Center is set for 7 p.m. MT (ESPN+).