CU Buffs women’s basketball: Stanford snaps the Buffs win streak

CU Buffs women’s basketball came into Friday night being the only undefeated team left in the nation. But they would not leave that way. The Buffs succumbed to one of the best teams in NCAA women’s basketball, some may argue the best. It was a defensive game to say the least, and ended in heartbreak in the 4th quarter when Pac-12 player of the week and standout star Jaylyn Sherrod went down with a leg injury.

It remained a close contest until the end. Colorado pulled close in the last minute of the game but the Cardinals pulled away to a 60-52 point victory in Boulder. For Colorado Quay Miller came off the bench to lead all scorers. Achieving 16 points and 3 rebounds, unfortunately fouling out in the last minutes of the game. Peanut Tuitele scored 10 points and 3 rebounds, the only other scorer in double digit points. Mya Hollingshed struggled from the field with just 7 points in this contest. It was a tough night offensively for the Buffs struggling mightily from the field. However, there defense was a major bright spot and kept them in the game until the very end.

For Stanford Haley Jones led the team with 11 points and 8 rebounds, and 5 assists. Cameron Brink added in 10 points on 7 rebounds, and Ashten Prechtel came off the bench to score 10 points and 8 rebounds as well. All in all Stanford just had a little more offensive depth than Colorado did, and it ultimately allowed the Cardinals to pull away in this contest.

It is nothing for the Buffs to hang there heads about in this one. The defending national champions came into Boulder and Colorado could have beaten them. They were definitely not themselves Friday night and had they been, they would have. Head coach JR Payne spoke emotionally after the game with these comments:

"“I’m really proud of our ball club. I think two really good basketball teams played tonight. Two really good teams. Two teams that should be competing at the highest level, like we were tonight. We competed, we battled, there are so many things that we have that we can learn from. I believe that we are also everything a good college basketball team should be. We’re tough, we’re fearless, we compete, on every single possession. Up 20 down 10. We compete and I’m unbelievably proud of our team today.”“I’m really proud of our ball club. I think two really good basketball teams played tonight. Two really good teams. Two teams that should be competing at the highest level, like we were tonight. We competed, we battled, there are so many things that we have that we can learn from. I believe that we are also everything a good college basketball team should be. We’re tough, we’re fearless, we compete, on every single possession. Up 20 down 10. We compete and I’m unbelievably proud of our team today.”"

To not be at your best and still almost beat the former national champions is nothing to sneeze at. Payne does not want a moral victory though. She wants this ball club to get better each time out, and learn from their mistakes in order to get better. This team has it’s best chance to reach the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2013. The game against Cal on Sunday has been postponed, so the Buffs next matchup will be at Oregon State.

The Buffs will hit the road for the first time this season in Pac-12 play and take on the 7-4 Beavers at Gill Coliseum on Monday. Looking to shake off that tough loss and get back into the swing of things. The Buffs will have a rematch against Stanford on Feb. 13th later this season at the Cardinals home court, where Colorado will look to steal a win back. It would speak volumes with how far Colorado has come and look great right before March Madness.