Snapshot: Iowa 87, Colorado WBB 77
Turning level: A 13-0 run by Iowa early within the third quarter turned a one-point CU lead right into a 12-point deficit. The Buffs by no means absolutely recovered.
Buff of the sport: Frida Formann. Earlier than fouling out, she was the chief of the offense, scoring a team-high 21 factors.
What’s subsequent?: The Buffaloes head to the offseason.
SEATTLE – The frustration harm as a lot because the bumps and bruises, however for the Colorado ladies’s basketball staff, there was additionally a way of pleasure because it noticed a outstanding and surprising NCAA Event run come to an finish on Friday evening.
“I simply informed the staff there’s nothing to hold our heads down about,” senior level guard Jaylyn Sherrod stated. “This was a terrific season. We answered a number of questions that folks had about us.”
As soon as once more, Colorado’s effort was elite, however this time, the outcome was not, as second-seeded Iowa ousted the sixth-seeded Buffs, 87-77, within the Candy 16 at Local weather Pledge Area.
“We’re all battered and bruised from that sport,” stated Sherrod, who completed with 11 factors and 9 assists. “However I’m happy with this staff. We stayed resilient. We fought by way of. When issues bought arduous, we have been all within the huddles retaining our heads up on to the following play mentality and I feel that’s what led to the push within the late fourth quarter.
“You at all times wish to win. We’re a superb ballclub and all of us wish to win, so it sucks that we didn’t get the win tonight, however on the finish of the day it’s on to the following and every one in every of these gamers have one thing to sit up for.”
Projected to complete eighth within the Pac-12 earlier than the season, the Buffaloes exceeded expectations all 12 months. They completed third within the convention and made a second straight NCAA Event look. Then, they gained a tourney sport for the primary time in 20 years and reached the Candy 16 for the primary time since 2003.
And, in entrance of a nationwide viewers on ESPN, CU (25-9) hung with the extremely touted Hawkeyes (29-6) all evening. The Buffs simply couldn’t absolutely rally after a giant Iowa run within the third quarter.
“Simply, as at all times, actually happy with our staff, how we competed and by no means wilted,” CU head coach JR Payne stated. “I feel we went down double digits twice and simply by no means stopped competing. I feel that’s the signal of a really resilient group, which we’re very resilient. Only a powerful, hard-nosed sport. Credit score to Iowa. They’re an excellent staff clearly and I simply want them the most effective of luck shifting ahead.”
First-team All-American Caitlin Clark had 31 factors, together with 18 within the second half, in addition to eight assists, to guide the Hawkeyes, who superior to Sunday’s Elite Eight in opposition to fifth-seeded Louisville. The Cardinals outlasted Mississippi, 72-62, on Friday evening.
After falling behind 15-5 halfway by way of the primary quarter, CU fought again to take a 40-39 lead into halftime, as Frida Formann scored 19 of her team-high 21 factors earlier than the break.
Iowa had a 13-0 run early within the third, nonetheless, that proved to be the distinction. Clark had seven factors in that run, punctuating it with a 3-pointer, steal and layup in a span of 13 seconds.
“We have been lacking some photographs and Iowa is only a staff that goes on runs fairly simply,” Formann stated. “They wish to rating quick and shoot the ball. You possibly can’t actually dwell by yourself misses too lengthy or the way you’re taking part in, so I feel we simply wanted to regulate. However they simply come at you quick. That’s how they play.”
Nonetheless, CU didn’t crumble. Foul hassle plagued the Buffs all evening, however after the Iowa lead reached 15, Quay Miller bought scorching and CU rallied. Miller had all 12 of her factors in a span of seven minutes, 20 seconds to chop the Iowa result in 76-70 with 4:14 to play within the fourth.
“I feel my teammates have been simply ready for me to get began,” stated Miller, who had 14 rebounds to go along with her 12 factors. “I simply didn’t wish to depart something out on the ground.”
The Buffs bought as shut as 78-74 with 1:42 to go, however the Hawkeyes scored the following seven factors to place the sport away and finish CU’s greatest season in twenty years.
“I’m so proud. I really like my staff a lot,” Payne stated. “You guys see the basketball, you see the tenacity and the toughness and the fearlessness. I see younger ladies that remember one another of their hardest moments. I see younger ladies that pour into their research and their lecturers. As arduous as they play, they examine simply as arduous. Suppose how arduous that’s to pour your whole coronary heart and soul into basketball and college and being in our neighborhood and celebrating the opposite sports activities on our campus.
“So I completely love our staff. I really like what the younger ladies in our program are about and I simply couldn’t be extra proud to be the top coach of the College of Colorado.”
Iowa 87, Colorado 77
COLORADO (25-9)
Vonleh 7-13 0-0 14, Miller 5-16 0-0 12, Sherrod 5-11 1-6 11, Jones 1-5 2-2 5, Formann 8-15 1-2 21, Sadler 3-11 1-2 9, Wetta 2-5 0-0 5, McLeod 0-0 0-0 0, Whittaker 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 31-76 5-12 77.
IOWA (28-6)
Warnock 4-6 3-4 12, Czinano 7-9 1-1 15, Martin 3-8 8-11 16, Clark 11-22 5-6 31, Marshall 3-6 0-0 7, Stuelke 0-0 0-0 0, Affolter 0-0 0-0 0, Davis 1-2 0-0 2, O’Grady 1-2 2-2 4. Totals 30-55 19-24 87.
Colorado 22 18 13 24 – 77
Iowa 23 16 25 23 – 87
3-point discipline objectives – Colorado 10-31 (Formann 4-9, Sadler 2-8, Miller 2-7, Jones 1-2, Wetta 1-2, Sherrod 0-3), Iowa 8-19 (Clark 4-9, Martin 2-3, Marshall 1-4, Warnock 1-3). Rebounds – Colorado 40 (Miller 14), Iowa 32 (Czinano 7). Assists – Colorado 21 (Sherrod 9), Iowa 18 (Clark 8). Steals – Colorado 6 (Vonleh 2), Iowa 6 (Clark, Marshall 2). Turnovers – Colorado 11, Iowa 13. Whole fouls – Colorado 24, Iowa 16. Fouled out – Formann, Sherrod, Vonleh.