Colorado’s head coach JR Payne instructs her team during the game against the University of Northern Colorado at the CU Events Center on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (Clementine Miller/CU Independent)
Eight games into their return to the Big 12, the University of Colorado Buffaloes (13-6, 4-4) remain committed to improving within the conference.
Colorado hosted the No. 10-ranked Kansas State University Wildcats (19-2, 7-1) on Saturday after a two-game road trip, handing the Wildcats their first conference loss of the season with an impressive 63-53 upset victory.
The Buffs did exactly what they were supposed to against Kansas State. Frida Formann, Jade Masogayo and Johanna Teder scored 14, 13 and 10 points, respectively. Masogayo also added four blocks, including three crucial ones in the fourth quarter. Notably, the Buffs are 12-2 this season when three or more players score in double digits.
Colorado started the season strong, going 9-2 in non conference games, with their only losses coming against then-No. 19 University of Louisville and Boise State University. However, Colorado has struggled in Big 12 road games, remaining winless at 0-4. They’ve lost those road games by an average of 15 points, failing to execute like they do at home.
Teder addressed the team’s road struggles after the win and shared her thoughts on what it will take to secure a victory against their next opponent, Brigham Young University (10-8, 1-6), who they’ll play on the road.
“We obviously want to change that, and we will change it,” Teder said. “It’s just about staying confident and working on the things we need to work on. We’re gonna get a win.”
With 10 games remaining in Big 12 play, head coach JR Payne emphasized that the team’s primary focus is on themselves, rather than the conference.
“We’re just really pretty focused on us. Our scouting reports are really detailed, and our team studies them and knows them. All of that is great, but at this point, we just want to do what we’re supposed to do,” Payne said after the Kansas State game. “Get paint touches, guard without fouling, finish possessions with great box-outs – whatever it is that we feel like we need to do well is our primary goal going into every game.”
The Buffs will try to snap their winless road effort on Wednesday with that matchup against BYU. Colorado will return home for a two-game home stand against Texas Tech University and the University of Arizona during the first week of February. Tip off in Provo is set for 7 p.m. MST (ESPN +).
Contact CU Independent women’s basketball writer Xavier Michnewicz at Xavier.Michnewicz@Colorado.edu
