No. 7 Colorado Soars Past AFA, 74-58

USAFA, Colo. – The seventh-ranked Colorado women's basketball team improved to 8-1 on the season with a 74-58 win over in-state rival Air Force at Clune Arena on Saturday.

The Buffaloes led by as much as 22 in the game, due in large to a 23-point effort from senior Frida Formann. The Denmark native went 8-for-17 from the field and hit five more 3s on the season, moving past former Buff Jenny Roulier and into fifth all-time with 206 career 3s.

"Hitting the 3s is fantastic and that's what most people see [from Formann]," head coach JR Payne explained after the win. "I see the fact that she opens up lanes for other people. I see that she's an incredible screener and it's very hard to leave her so she can get other people open. Besides hitting shots, she's just one of those players that makes everybody's life a little bit easier."

CU was able to play 14 players on the day, getting key contributions from Sara-Rose Smith off the bench. The senior transfer added 11 points and eight rebounds in her 17 minutes. Kindyll Wetta was also effective off the bench, lending eight points, six rebounds three steals and two assists. Redshirt freshman Shelomi Sanders checked in for the Buffs for the first time this season hitting a late 3-pointer for her first career points as a Buff.

The Falcons pressed the Buffs early on Saturday, keeping the game within six points in the first quarter. AFA forced the Buffs into 21 turnovers and scored 15 points off the CU mishaps.

"We knew they were going to be a no-quit type of team," Smith noted. "We just had a big emphasis on working out how we can get each other open and not let them speed us up. We just had to stick to what we do."

Air Force (4-4) was led by Taylor Britt and her 13 points.

Colorado used its decisive advantage in the post to its advantage. The Buffs outrebounded the Falcons 49-30, with Quay Miller snagging a team-high nine boards. CU had 15 offensive rebounds, scoring 11 second-chance points and totaling 40 points in the paint.

"We haven't played anyone really this year that guards the way that they guard," Payne added. "We talked about it. I thought we were pretty prepared, but it's still a different feeling when you get on the floor and it's happening. I was proud of how we persevered, stayed the course and figured some things out. In the end, we were able to take advantage inside."

How It Happened
It was Air Force who would jump to the early lead, opening up with a 4-0 start while Colorado's offense started 0-for-4 from the field. A Jaylyn Sherrod jumper got the Buffs on the board and she followed with a steal and assist on Formann's opening 3 of the afternoon to cut the Falcon lead to 6-5. Formann hit her second triple of the day on the following possession and CU outscored AFA 17-7 the rest of the quarter to take a 19-13 lead.

"It's been a thing we've been thinking about recently," Smith said of the team's slow starts. "We can't keep getting off to these slow starts. Once we start playing better, stronger competition, those are things that are going to kill us. There has been a big emphasis [on it] this week."

The Buffs kept on the gas pedal in the second quarter, outscoring the Falcons 21-18 in the period. Air Force got within six points three times in the quarter, but a pair of Wetta free throws followed by a Maddie Nolan 3 sparked a 13-0 run over the final 6:45 of the half. Smith had four points in the run and four of her eight rebounds in the quarter.

"It's always nice to look at the score and see that you're up by 20," Formann commented. "But I think it was just kind of finding our flow and getting some stops – streaming stops together really helped us."

AFA cut its 19-point halftime deficit down to 13 midway through the third quarter, but that was as close as they would get the remainder of the day. CU got baskets from Charlotte Whittaker and closed with another Formann 3-ball in a 9-2 run to close the quarter, leading 56-36.

The Buffs' lead grew to its largest of the day, 60-38, following a Smith driving layup with 7:13 to play in the final period. Colorado emptied its bench in the closing minutes, seeing AFA get back within 14, but the Sanders 3 put the finishing touches on the 16-point win.

"I loved how everyone came in pretty aggressive," Payne explained. "Everyone that came into the game looked to be aggressive, whether that was on the glass, the ball, shooting open shots or defending. I think that really helped us and there was no drop off whatsoever. A lot of different people played and had to play some different positions and that was good for us."

Key Moment
Colorado limited the Air Force offense to just eight points on 4-for-17 shooting in the second quarter. CU was outscoring AFA 13-8 midway through the quarter but went on an 11-0 run in the final five minutes to complete the 21-8 quarter.

Up Next
Colorado will be back at the CU Events Center on Tuesday, hosting the team's Field Trip Day. Tip-off against UT Arlington is set for 11 a.m. MT.

Notes
CU is now 9-0 all-time against Air Force…CU's 16 assists were the second fewest this season (11 vs NC State)…The 49 rebounds were the most since recording 50 against Washington on Feb. 12, 2023…The Buffs' 21 turnovers tied for a season-high (LSU)…Formann has now scored 20+ points three times this season…She has also hit 5+ 3-pointers in three games…Formann has yet to miss from the free-throw line this season improving to 20-for-20 (2-2 today)…Sherrod didn't attempt a free throw, keeping her streak of 21 consecutive intact…CU only attempted eight free throws, tied for the fewest this season (Cincinnati).

Quotes
Head Coach JR Payne
On Air Force – "This is exactly what I expected. I always say I love being around our military and being able to see young women like this and knowing what they pour into their daily effort to serve our country is incredible. They play exactly how you would want our military to play – super tough, totally fearless, never quit. They are all in all the time. I always know that this is one of our hardest games. Just because of their mindset. Today was no different. It's always a battle."

On overall play – "I thought in spurts we were really good. I thought the second quarter was fantastic. I don't know how many points they scored [8] but everything was tough. It was very hard for them to get a good clean look. Early in the second half, they were scoring a lot. I didn't think the defense was bad. I thought they were hitting the shots. I thought we were contesting shots pretty well. But the more aggressive we are usually the better we are."

Senior Sara-Rose Smith
On the slow starts – "I don't know. I think we just saw people trying to make things out of nothing. We play best when we stick to our stuff and we know that."

On stepping her game up – "I don't really think of it like that. I think I just saw opportunities where I was open and I know what I can do. When I'm left on that left-hand side, I'm going to take it to the rack. I don't think I was looking at it like 'Oh, this person is scoring more so it's my turn.' I think it's just sort of within the flow of the offense. I found myself."

Senior Frida Formann
On the second quarter – "Our offense feeds off our defense. Whenever we get stops, we go in transition and get an easy shot. I think we were also really good on the O-boards. We just kept giving ourselves extra opportunities and we made it really difficult for them. When you're a team that's not scoring and you're not getting stops that's really deflating. I think that's what happened to them."

Next Event

Team Stats

Frida Formann

Sara-Rose Smith

Quay Miller

Kindyll Wetta

Players Mentioned

Frida Formann

Quay Miller

Maddie Nolan

Shelomi Sanders

Jaylyn Sherrod

Sara-Rose Smith

Kindyll Wetta

Charlotte Whittaker