Third top-20 win shows flashes of Buffs’ identity
- Jake Chau
- Feb 22
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 23
It’s blue collar, it’s gritty and it’s tough. Head coach JR Payne has the Colorado Buffaloes in control of their destiny as they strive towards March.
Payne has spoken to the identity of her team as “fearless.” And in the midst of winning eight of their last nine contests, including five straight, the Buffaloes have finally brought it from paper and words to actions and plays.
Rebounding
The Buffaloes have a +60 rebounding margin in their last three games – the most of any D-I team since Valentine’s Day a week ago.
Senior forwards Anäele Dutat and Jade Masagyo lead the way with 24 and 17 rebounds, respectively, during that stretch. Freshman forward Logyn Green has 16.
It’s not just those lengthy forwards bringing down defensive boards; it’s where they’re coming from.
In that rebound margin, Colorado leads its opponents 44-13 on offensive boards, allowing them to outscore its opponents 54-5 on second-chance points.
“We don't play perfect basketball, we make plenty of mistakes, but our toughness and fearlessness are never in question,” Payne said after Colorado’s win against Iowa State.
Even though the Buffs have a bottom-third point-per-game average and bottom-half shooting percentage in the Big 12, they’ve found ways to outscore their opponents game in and game out. They’ve done that through staying aggressive on the boards and shifty guard play.
“I think our team is really buying into [the idea] that we can all rebound,” Payne said.
Even though CU’s top three rebound getters are forwards, junior guards Zyanna Walker and Desiree Wooten have brought down 15 and 13 boards, respectively, in the last three games, including combining for six offensive boards.
“It's just been maybe better the next few games, because we have a better sense of urgency. It really matters, and that's how we win games,” Dutat said.
Energy
The lively guard play of Walker and Wooten has provided a major spark off the bench for Colorado.
Relying on Wooten’s energy, she averages 15.3 points in six games against top-25 teams, up from her 12.5 across the season.
“I just live for these moments,” Wooten said. “I like the hard stuff. I like the tough stuff.”
Walker also rises to the occasion, averaging 14.3 points per game in those top-25 matches, up from her 10.9.
That high energy and aggressiveness have Colorado beating zones and presses that previously suffocated their offense.
“I think we just got more organized. I thought we were a little bit unorganized,” Payne said. “We wanted to be more aggressive, we wanted to move the ball faster, you know, and not let it stick anywhere. And I thought when we did that, [we were] more effective.”
Fourth quarter demons exercised?
In each of Colorado’s six games won while trailing headed into the final quarter, Wooten averages six points during the final frame, while Masagayo scores 4.8 and Walker 3.6.
Before rattling off eight wins in nine games, Colorado struggled mightily in fourth quarters, especially when the game was close.
The Buffs were 4-7 when the game was within 10 points going to the final frame and only 1-5 when trailing or tied, being outscored by 16 despite being 12-7.
However, Colorado is +45 in the final frame and overtime since, with all but two games being within 10 points going into the final frame.
In that stretch, the Buffs are 4-1 when trailing heading into the final 10 minutes.
“I think it speaks directly to the growth of the team,” Payne said. “The fact that we really believe in ourselves down the stretch, you know, and we believe in each other, we believe in our execution.”
The Buffaloes have had the pieces to a March puzzle all season long. And finally, they’ve found ways to put it together at their own pace and under their own discretion.
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