Forward Anaëlle Dutat shoots a free throw during Colorado’s game against New Mexico at the CU Events Center on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. (Tyler Phillips/CU Independent)
The Colorado women’s basketball team opened their 2025 campaign at the CU Events Center on Nov. 6 against the University of New Mexico Lobos, taking home an 84-59 win.
Colorado started the game on a 6-0 run with four points coming from senior forward Anaëlle Dutat before the offense dried up, leading to a New Mexico 10-0 run in response. Dutat’s presence in the paint was felt again on offense, as she scored another four points during the Buffs’ 12-2 run to end the first quarter 18-12.
The Lobos started off the second quarter strong with a 13-2 run led by junior guard Destinee Hooks’ 10 points, putting Colorado in a 25-20 hole. The Buffs drove back into the lead with a 7-2 run in the middle of the quarter, with help from redshirt junior guard Desiree Wooten.
Wooten gave the Buffs the lead with a three-pointer and pull-up jumper from the elbow on consecutive plays. Her craftiness aided the Buffs, scoring nine of the last 11 Colorado points in the second half.
Still, New Mexico kept it close, shooting 40% from three. At the end of the half, Colorado went into the locker room, ahead 33-32.
Despite only a one-point lead at half, head coach JR Payne’s group came out of the locker room with renewed energy. The half started with the Buffs and Lobos going back and forth before junior Claire O’Connor’s layup off a turnover kick started a 10-2 run to help push the lead to 11, at 51-40.
O’Connor remained hot as a three-pointer off a fast break pushed the Colorado lead to 15. The quarter ended where it started with an O’Connor pull-up jumper to cap off a Buffs 33 point third quarter – doubling their first-half point total.
The momentum rode itself out from there, as the 18 point lead swelled to as much as 25 after redshirt junior Maeve McErlane’s layup with 3:07 left in the fourth quarter put the Buffs on top, 80-55.
Senior star Jade Masogayo was largely held in check in the Buffs’ home opener, shooting just 33% and scoring four points in only 19 minutes of game time.
“Jade’s a great player and she’s going to have a great season,” Payne said. “It’s pretty great to have a night where we can win by 20 and she doesn’t even have to play that much.”
Still, contributions popped up all around, including senior transfer Dutat’s double-double.
“I said to the locker room this stat sheet is like a coach’s dream, you know to have so much balance…and feel that so many different people on the team can contribute in lots of different ways,” Payne said.
Dutat shot 50% from the field for 16 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, including five offensive boards.
“I’m trying to be aggressive and obviously offensive…rebounding gets me really aggressive,” Dutat said. “Once I’m rolling then I’m just trying to keep building on it.”
Part of the second-half success for the Buffs was their defensive energy. New Mexico shot 44% from the field in the first half before Colorado’s defense clamped down, allowing only nine total makes on 27% shooting in the second half.
“Really, we needed to guard the three-point line more effectively,” Payne said. “A little bit less help off shooters and try to pressure more, run people off.”
Head coach JR Payne speaks to Colorado players during Colorado’s game against New Mexico at the CU Events Center on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. (Tyler Phillips/CU Independent)
The new-look Buffs gelled quickly as well, as all five players with double-digit points were new faces — Dutat, Wooten, O’Connor, Jade Crook and Erianna Gooden.
“This group has really, really good chemistry, really unselfish players…that want to see each other succeed,” Payne said. “And I think when you have that mindset, sky’s the limit.”
Colorado’s next game is set for Wednesday, Nov. 12 against the No. 20 ranked Louisville Cardinals. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. MDT and will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Jake Chau at jake.chau@colorado.edu
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Lilly Watson at lillian.watson@colorado.edu
