Buffs Batter Bears, 79-62

Tuesday, December 16

Boulder, Colo.

7:00 PM

Colorado

9-3,0-0Big 12

Northern Colorado

8-3,0-0Big Sky

Northern Colo.

Colorado

December 16, 2025 | Women's Basketball

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By: Malala Pyle, Assistant Director of Athletic Communication

BOULDER – The Colorado women's basketball team (9-3, 0-0 Big 12) defeated Northern Colorado (8-3, 0-0 Big Sky), 79-62, at the CU Events Center on Tuesday, Dec. 16.

The Buffaloes faced the Bears for their last nonconference matchup of the season. They played a close first quarter, but the Black and Gold out-ran the Bears in the second and led Northern Colorado through the remaining three quarters. The Bears chipped away at the Colorado lead, but the Buffaloes ended the game ahead by 17.

"I'm really proud of our team," head coach JR Payne said. "Definitely the turnovers were not what we wanted them to be, but in almost every other statistical category, it was really good, like excellent rebounding. We defended really well, lots of steals, lots of great balance on the offensive scoring, lots of balance on the rebounding. I thought overall, a great showing for our final [nonconference] game."

The Buffs had more points in the paint (46-32), rebounds (37-25), assists (17-9) and blocks (4-1) than the Bears. Colorado held Northern Colorado scoreless from beyond the arc in the first half.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

The Buffaloes opened scoring in the first 15 seconds from a Greer jumper (2-0, CU). Northern Colorado scored a jumper of their own, but McErlane put the Buffs back in the lead with a three-point jumper (5-2, CU). A second-chance layup from Dutat put Colorado ahead after UNC tied the game (7-5, CU). The Black and Gold traded sets of layups and jumpers, with Greer and Wooten scoring for CU (11-9, CU). The Bears made a jumper off a turnover, but Wooten closed out scoring with a three-point jumper, ending the quarter, 14-11 (CU).

The Bears went up by one early in the second quarter, but a layup from Masogayo saw the Black and Gold back in the lead (16-15, CU). Colorado went on a 14-point run from a Masogayo layup, a Greer and one, a Dutat jumper and a three-point jumper from Wooten (28-15, CU). A Northern Colorado layup ended the run, but the Buffs went on an 11-0 run, with Walker scoring five points in a row for the Buffs from three free throws and a layup (40-19, CU). The Bears made three free throws to end the quarter, 40-22 (CU).

The third quarter began with a second-chance layup from Masogayo (42-22, CU). Seven seconds later, Greer scored a layup off a turnover to extend the Buffs lead to 22 (44-22, CU). A five-point run from the Bears was ended by two Greer layups in the paint (48-27, CU). A foul on UNC sent Wooten to the line where she made both free throws (50-27, CU). The Buffs increased the lead to 25 from a second-chance jumper from Masogayo (52-27, CU). Walker ended a five-point run from Northern Colorado with a three-point jumper off a turnover (55-32, CU). A free throw and a jumper from the Bears were answered with a free throw from Wooten and a jumper from Dutat (58-35, CU). Northern Colorado scored three final points at the end of the quarter to shorten the Buffaloes lead to 20 (58-38, CU).

Wooten ended a 5-0 run from the Bears with a layup in the paint (60-43, CU). Northern Colorado scored from a layup, but Colorado went on an eight-point run from a Masogayo layup, and a pair of and ones from Dutat and Greer (68-45, CU). The Buffaloes and the Bears traded layups, with Masogayo scoring in the paint (70-47, CU). Free throws from Crook and Masogayo ended a 5-0 Bears run (72-52, CU). Two layups from the Bears were returned with a Gooden three-point jumper (75-56, CU). Northern Colorado responded with a three of their own, but Hämäläinen and Zadel scored two layups for the Black and Gold (79-59, CU). UNC scored three points, but Colorado ended the game, 79-62 (CU).

UP NEXT:

The Buffs will travel to Tempe, Ariz., on Sunday, Dec. 21, to face Arizona State for their Big 12 Conference opener. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. MT. The game will be streamed on ESPN+, and fans can follow along via live stats links on CUBuffs.com.

PLAYER NOTES:

Fr. F Logyn Greer led the Buffs in scoring with 18 points, and she had six rebounds, an assist and a block.

Sr. F Jade Masogayo had 17 points for the Buffs, as well as five rebounds and three assists.

MASOGAYO ON CLEANING UP PLAY: "I mean, just from the beginning of the first quarter, I just thought we were really unorganized. It was kind of chaotic, and so we just really had to clean that up. We talked about that on the bench. So, that's what we did."

Sr. F Anaëlle Dutat had nine points, seven rebounds, two steals, a block and an assist.

Jr. G Desiree Wooten totaled 16 points, one rebound, one assist, a steal and a block.

WOOTEN ON FORCING TURNOVERS: "I just think as much as you take pride in offense, you want to take pride in defense. Most of the time, your defense wins the game. You have to stop them from scoring. So, just play both sides of the floor."

Jr. G Zyanna Walker finished with eight points, five rebounds, four assists and five steals.

Jr. G Maeve McErlane saw her first CU start, finishing the night with three points, two assists, one steal and two rebounds.

Fr. C Jade Crook had one point and one rebound, and Fr. F Sophie Zadel had two points and two rebounds.

Fr. G Erianna Gooden had three points, three rebounds, one steal and two assists.

Fr. G Isa Hämäläinen scored her first collegiate points, finishing with two off a jumper.

So. F Tabitha Betson totaled three assists and two rebounds.

Fifth C JoJo Nworie had one block and one rebound.

For the Bears, Gabi Fields and Neenah George each had 13 points.

POST GAME NOTES:

The Buffs move to 16-6 all-time against the Bears.

All-time, the Buffs move to 63-20 against Big Sky opponents.

CU had more rebounds (37-25), points in the paint (46-32), assists (17-9) and blocks (4-1).

For more information on the Colorado women's basketball team, a complete schedule and results, please visit CUBuffs.com. Fans of the Buffs can follow the team on Instagram and on Twitter @CUBuffsWBB.