Buffs Head South to Take on the Falcons

USAFA, Colo. – The No. 7 Colorado Buffaloes will make the short trip down to Clune Arena to wrap up the week against Air Force on Saturday (1 p.m. MT).

The Buffs (7-1) will look to feed off their strong second half against Boston U on Tuesday. Colorado scored 30 points in the fourth quarter and 50 points in the second half to pick up the 30-point win over the Terriers.

Head coach JR Payne called Colorado "stagnant" in the first three quarters against BU, allowing the Terriers to keep close with CU on its home court and eventually take a three-point lead in the third quarter.

The Buffs flipped the switch in the fourth quarter, outscoring BU 30-4 and holding the opposition to just 1-of-8 shooting in the final frame.

"I think [we realized] it was the fourth quarter so it's now or never," senior Frida Formann said after the win. "I think as a collective, we were working on trying to figure out how we can flip that switch a little bit in our control and not whenever it just happens."

Eight of the team's 22 assists came in the final quarter on Tuesday. CU has now had 20 or more assists in seven of its first eight games. The Buffs had at least 20 assists nine times last season.

"I'd say I learned that we just have what it takes to dial in and overcome adversity," junior Aaronette Vonleh added. "I mean, it might take us a while, but I always know that we're going to turn it on eventually. I also learned that we just need to work on being able to start the game on and not wait to turn it on when it's too late because when we play good teams, you can't wait till the fourth quarter to turn it on."

Colorado and Air Force (4-3) have played in three of the last four seasons and have met five times under Payne's leadership. CU owns an 8-0 series lead, dating back to the inaugural meeting back on Jan. 28, 1978.

The Falcons went 1-2 last week at the Rainbow Wahine Showdown. AFA opened with a 54-51 win over Hawaii, before falling to Washington and Idaho State. The Falcons are playing typical academy basketball early on this season, ranking 21st in the nation with 12.0 steals per game. AFA is also 18th in the NCAA with a +6.88 turnover margin.

Last year's meeting saw Air Force take a fourth-quarter lead and CU didn't gain more than a two-possession lead until inside the final minute, finishing off the game at the free-throw line for the 71-63 win.

"We expected a dogfight and we got one," Payne exclaimed after last year's win.

Saturday's game is the final road test for the Buffs in non-conference play. Colorado will return home on Dec. 5 to play UT Arlington and will wrap up non-conference play against Northern Colorado on Dec. 21.

Cory Lopez and Hanna Halteman will be on the call across the Colorado Radio Network. Pregame coverage will start at 12:30.

The game will be streamed online at CUBuffs.com/WatchWBB.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Frida Formann

Aaronette Vonleh