Quick break
Why the Buffs received: Their protection was dominant early they usually hit pictures to construct a giant lead.
Three stars:
1. CU’s Desiree Wooten: Completed with 21 factors, 5 rebounds and three assists.
2. CU’s Zyanna Walker: Scored 19 factors and added 4 rebounds, two steals and two assists.
3. CU’s Logyn Greer: Freshman had 9 factors and 4 rebounds.
Up subsequent: The sixth-seeded Buffs will face No. 2-seeded and No. 15-ranked West Virginia within the Large 12 match semifinals Saturday (4:30 p.m. MT, ESPN+) in Kansas Metropolis.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The highest two seeds within the Large 12 girls’s basketball match are shifting on to the semifinals.
Then, there are the 2 shock groups: Zyanna Walker’s present squad at Colorado, and her outdated workforce at Kansas State.
“Oh man, it’s March; something can occur,” Walker, a junior guard, mentioned with a smile after serving to the Buffaloes to a 62-53 upset of No. 20 Baylor on the T-Cellular Heart on Friday night time. “It’s March. The nice groups are going to be nice, and groups are going to struggle. All people’s combating for an opportunity at one thing particular. We’re, I’m positive (the Kansas State Wildcats) are, too. Something can occur.”
The sixth-seeded Buffaloes (22-10) dominated third-seeded Baylor (24-8) early after which held on within the fourth quarter of the quarterfinals. They are going to face second-seeded and No. 15 West Virginia on Saturday within the semifinals.
No. 1-seed TCU will face Twelfth-seeded Kansas State – the place Walker performed the earlier two years – within the different semifinal.
Enjoying within the final quarterfinal of the day, CU joined the ultimate 4 by counting on Desiree Wooten (21 factors) and Walker (19 factors). CU has reached the convention semifinals for the primary time since 2023 within the Pac-12. The Buffs additionally beat an Related Press High 20 workforce for the fourth time this season, strengthening their NCAA Match resume.
“Oh man, yeah, actually pleased with how we performed tonight,” CU head coach JR Payne mentioned. “I assumed we have been very ready and really excited for this chance. Typically within the Large 12, whenever you solely get to play somebody as soon as, and in that one time, you don’t carry out the way in which you want you had, generally you don’t get to play that sport once more for a whole yr. So this was a very nice alternative for us as a result of we have been pissed off with the way in which we completed the one sport we did play with Baylor this yr. We have been simply actually excited for the chance to play them once more.
“Simply general nice workforce effort. It wasn’t excellent in any sense of the phrase, however I assumed we did precisely what we wanted to do to achieve success. So, pleased with our effort, for positive.”
On Jan. 8, the Buffs misplaced to Baylor, 56-52, in Waco, Texas. That they had a season-worst .284 capturing share in that sport and nonetheless had a shot to win.
This time, CU trailed simply as soon as, at 2-0, and led by as many as 17 factors earlier than Baylor rallied late. The Bears pulled inside seven on three events within the fourth, however CU didn’t let the lead get beneath that.
“I simply suppose the primary time we performed them, we form of simply beat ourselves,” Walker mentioned. “We have been simply lacking straightforward layups, simply turning the ball over and simply unforced turnovers. So this time, we have been actually locked in. We knew we needed to simply do the little issues and simply do the easy basketball issues to win the sport.”
CU had a double-digit lead many of the sport till failing to attain in the course of the first 5 minutes of the fourth quarter, which allowed Baylor to tug inside 54-47.
“It was anticipated,” Walker mentioned of the Baylor rally. “They’re an incredible workforce, so we knew they have been going to hit a run finally. But it surely’s essential for us to only be capable to cease that run, and we did that.”
Baylor saved CU’s forwards in test, as Jade Masogayo, Anaelle Dutat and Tabitha Betson mixed for simply 11 factors (they did have 15 rebounds, nevertheless). Wooten and Walker took benefit and carried the scoring load.
“I feel it simply turned out that method,” mentioned Wooten, who hit three early 3-points to assist CU construct a 31-14 lead. “I feel we’ve got chemistry collectively. I feel we play nicely collectively. Folks been calling us the dynamic duo, so I assume we’ve simply been residing as much as it.”
This week, the Buffs have been a dynamic workforce that shook off a tough remaining week of the common season – dropping to Utah and BYU – to win their first two in Kansas Metropolis and certain punch their NCAA Match ticket.
“I feel (being a close-knit workforce) turns into crucial as a result of, like Zy’s saying, everyone seems to be combating for his or her lives at this level,” Payne mentioned. “Actually, actually good basketball goes to occur it doesn’t matter what. For us, chemistry is a giant a part of our success, so I feel we actually lean into that chemistry. … I feel that’s what makes this group so particular.”
Colorado 62, No. 20 Baylor 53
COLORADO (22-10)
Masogayo 1-5 1-4 3, Dutat 2-4 1-2 5, Betson 1-2 0-0 3, Walker 6-14 6-10 19, McErlane 0-2 0-0 0, Wooten 8-16 2-2 21, Greer 3-5 3-3 9, Criminal 0-1 0-0 0, Gooden 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 22-50 13-21 62.
BAYLOR (24-7)
Okay. Johnson 0-1 0-0 0, Littlepage-Buggs 3-8 4-5 10, Fontleroy 1-9 0-0 2, Scott 5-21 3-4 14, Van Gytenbeek 1-4 0-0 3, Abraham 4-5 2-4 10, M. Johnson 0-2 1-2 1, Deng 2-5 2-2 6, Forehead 2-2 0-0 5, Nelms 1-3 0-4 2, Pemberton 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 19-62 12-21 53.
Colorado 20 17 17 8 – 62
Baylor 10 15 15 13 – 53
3-point objectives – Colorado 5-13 (Wooten 3-7, Walker 1-3, Betson 1-1, McErlane 0-2), Baylor 3-21 (Scott 1-7, Van Gytenbeek 1-3, Forehead 1-1, Fontleroy 0-5, Deng 0-2, Okay. Johnson 0-1, M. Johnson 0-1, Nelms 0-1). Rebounds – Colorado 33 (Masogayo, Dutat 6), Baylor 37 (Littlepage-Buggs 10). Assists – Colorado 11 (McErlance, Wooten 3), Baylor 10 (Forehead 3). Steals – Colorado 7 (Dutat 3), Baylor 5 (5 gamers with 1). Turnovers – Colorado 15, Baylor 14. Complete fouls – Colorado 21, Baylor 21. Fouled out – Masogayo. Attendance – 4,771.