It was one of the most important games for the Colorado Buffaloes women’s basketball team of the season and head coach JR Payne. The Buffs did not have much breathing room for a chance to get into the NCAA Tournament. Even coming off an L.A. sweep before coming back home. While there is still the Pac-12 Tournament to go the Buffs needed to make a statement here tonight, and they did. In a groundbreaking and heart throbbing double overtime victory.
Peanut Tuitele did far more on the floor than you can see on the stat sheet, but she had 10 points and 6 rebounds. Mya Hollingshed fouled out but produced another double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Former Pac-12 freshman of the week Jaylyn Sherrod had a monster of a game scoring 17 points and 8 assists. Lesila Finau added 15 points. Our favorite sixth woman in the Pac-12 Quay Miller added 11 points and 5 rebounds as the clutch player who always comes through on the bench.
It was a great matchup from top to bottom. Almost head to head on field goals and three point shooting. Colorado edged out Oregon on the free throw line which helped them win the contest. Oregon edged out the Buffs just a tad at rebounds and three-point makes. All in all the Ducks had more turnovers which led the Buffs to take this one.
It’s a tough task to go into a double overtime game and try to win without the star of your team in Mya Hollingshed. One of the best players in the league. Though head coach JR Payne was not surprised. This team has depth and a sense of togetherness and toughness that most teams do not have. During the after game press conference here is what Coach Payne had to say on behalf
of the effort of her team:
"“Really proud of our effort tonight, our togetherness. We just stuck together the entire game when things were really going great we stuck together, when things were not going great the most beautiful thing about it was it was these that held us together. In time outs and huddles, there wasn’t even a lot that I needed to say as far as what we need to focus on. What our priorities should be. These guys took control of that. Great leadership. So much heart on so many plays.”"
At the moment the Buffs rank 30th in the NCAA women’s basketball net rankings. With the win tonight against a top 25 team that number will look to rise. Colorado will finish it’s last game of the season on Saturday against Oregon State at 12:00 PM at the Coors Events Center. The Beavers will come in at 13-10 coming off a win against California. Colorado will look on to continue to let their confidence grow and challenge the Beavers for their 20th win of the season.