Wednesday, February 12
Salt Lake City, UT
7 p.m.
Colorado
16-8,7-6Big 12
60
at
77
Utah
19-5,10-3Big 12
1
2
3
4
F
Colorado
17
17
11
15
60
Utah
29
16
20
12
77
Photo by: Serena Rodriguez
Shorthanded Buffs Fall to Utah
February 12, 2025 | Women's Basketball
SALT LAKE CITY – A shorthanded Colorado came up short on the road Tuesday night against Utah at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, 77-60, as the Buffaloes lost their second straight game.
Colorado (16-8, 7-6) had only 10 players available, entering the game without Kindyll Wetta, JoJo Nworie, Sara-Rose Smith, and Frida Formann.
"They [Utah] just did the things that they do," head coach JR Payne said. "They hit 3s, they offensive rebounded, shot 51% from the floor. They definitely beat us tonight. Utah is a really good team, and I don't think we did what we needed to do for the first three quarters, but I loved our effort in the last quarter."
In her first start since November, Freshman Tabitha Betson set a new season-high in points with 15 and tied her season-best with eight rebounds; both led the team. Betson finished 6-of-10 from the field and made a season-high three 3-pointers.
"I thought Tabitha [Betson] played great tonight," Payne said. "Making shots, defending players that are a good bit bigger than her, competing on the glass, five offensive rebounds against one of the better rebounding teams in the league. I thought [she] was tremendous."
Two other Buffs scored in double figures, with Lior Garzon registering 13 points, shooting 3-for-3 from deep. Jade Masogayo chipped in 11, scoring eight in the second quarter.
The Utes (19-5, 10-3) were led by Gianna Kneepkens and Mayè Tourè, who accounted for 31 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists. Utah shot 50.9% from the field as a team and outrebounded Colorado by 13.
Utah's 29 first-quarter points proved to be a decisive factor on the night as Colorado kept with the Utes throughout the next three quarters, keeping it to a five-point game, 48-43, over the final 30 minutes.
Wednesday was only the third time Colorado shot 50% or more from behind the arc this season. The Buffs hit 8-of-16, with Betson and Garzon each making three.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After a rebound and putback by Betson on the game's first offensive possession, Utah scored 17 unanswered points while shooting 7-for-8 from the field to lead 17-2. A 3-pointer by Betson stopped the Utah run and sparked CU to a 10-0 run, cutting the lead to 17-12 with 2:35 left in the first quarter.
The quarter of runs finished in the Utes' favor, scoring nine points in 98 seconds, including two baskets in the final seven seconds to lead 29-17 at the end of the opening frame.
Betson led the Buffs in the first quarter, scoring 10 points on 4-of-5 from the field, 2-of-3 from beyond the arc with two rebounds.
Utah made its first three shots of the second quarter to extend the lead to 33-21 before a quick five-point burst by Garzon and a layup by Johanna Teder closed the gap to 33-28.
Later in the quarter, Masogayo scored back-to-back baskets, a part of her eight-point quarter, to bring the Buffs to within four points. Utah closed the half on a 7-0 run to take a 45-34 lead at the half. The Utes lived in the paint in the first half with nine second-chance points on eight offensive rebounds to only two for Colorado on three offensive boards.
Masogayo opened up the second-half scoring with an and-1 for the Buffs before Utah took complete control of the game, netting the following 11 points to lead 56-37. The Utes maintained the rest of the quarter, entering the final frame leading 65-45.
Colorado outscored Utah 15-12 in the fourth quarter, playing a lineup of four freshmen. Utah still maintained a comfortable lead till the end of the game, improving to 13-1 at home on the season.
"I was really proud of the group that finished the game," Payne commented. "I thought our effort was great. The pace that we wanted to play with was fantastic. Great competition, mostly freshmen in that last stretch, but I was really proud of that."
UP NEXT
The Buffs will return home to take on Houston at the CU Events Center on Saturday, Feb. 15.
NOTES
Wednesday was Colorado's eighth different starting lineup of the season…Utah takes a 23-22 series lead…the Buffs fall to 3-7 on the road and 1-6 on the road in Big 12 play…Colorado gave up 29 points in the first quarter for the second consecutive game…Betson's third double-figure scoring game of the season…Garzon, with her 12th game of 10+ points this season…Masogayo with her 17th double-figure effort…Garzon hit three 3s to give her 281 for her career.
Colorado (16-8, 7-6) had only 10 players available, entering the game without Kindyll Wetta, JoJo Nworie, Sara-Rose Smith, and Frida Formann.
"They [Utah] just did the things that they do," head coach JR Payne said. "They hit 3s, they offensive rebounded, shot 51% from the floor. They definitely beat us tonight. Utah is a really good team, and I don't think we did what we needed to do for the first three quarters, but I loved our effort in the last quarter."
In her first start since November, Freshman Tabitha Betson set a new season-high in points with 15 and tied her season-best with eight rebounds; both led the team. Betson finished 6-of-10 from the field and made a season-high three 3-pointers.
"I thought Tabitha [Betson] played great tonight," Payne said. "Making shots, defending players that are a good bit bigger than her, competing on the glass, five offensive rebounds against one of the better rebounding teams in the league. I thought [she] was tremendous."
Two other Buffs scored in double figures, with Lior Garzon registering 13 points, shooting 3-for-3 from deep. Jade Masogayo chipped in 11, scoring eight in the second quarter.
The Utes (19-5, 10-3) were led by Gianna Kneepkens and Mayè Tourè, who accounted for 31 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists. Utah shot 50.9% from the field as a team and outrebounded Colorado by 13.
Utah's 29 first-quarter points proved to be a decisive factor on the night as Colorado kept with the Utes throughout the next three quarters, keeping it to a five-point game, 48-43, over the final 30 minutes.
Wednesday was only the third time Colorado shot 50% or more from behind the arc this season. The Buffs hit 8-of-16, with Betson and Garzon each making three.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After a rebound and putback by Betson on the game's first offensive possession, Utah scored 17 unanswered points while shooting 7-for-8 from the field to lead 17-2. A 3-pointer by Betson stopped the Utah run and sparked CU to a 10-0 run, cutting the lead to 17-12 with 2:35 left in the first quarter.
The quarter of runs finished in the Utes' favor, scoring nine points in 98 seconds, including two baskets in the final seven seconds to lead 29-17 at the end of the opening frame.
Betson led the Buffs in the first quarter, scoring 10 points on 4-of-5 from the field, 2-of-3 from beyond the arc with two rebounds.
Utah made its first three shots of the second quarter to extend the lead to 33-21 before a quick five-point burst by Garzon and a layup by Johanna Teder closed the gap to 33-28.
Later in the quarter, Masogayo scored back-to-back baskets, a part of her eight-point quarter, to bring the Buffs to within four points. Utah closed the half on a 7-0 run to take a 45-34 lead at the half. The Utes lived in the paint in the first half with nine second-chance points on eight offensive rebounds to only two for Colorado on three offensive boards.
Masogayo opened up the second-half scoring with an and-1 for the Buffs before Utah took complete control of the game, netting the following 11 points to lead 56-37. The Utes maintained the rest of the quarter, entering the final frame leading 65-45.
Colorado outscored Utah 15-12 in the fourth quarter, playing a lineup of four freshmen. Utah still maintained a comfortable lead till the end of the game, improving to 13-1 at home on the season.
"I was really proud of the group that finished the game," Payne commented. "I thought our effort was great. The pace that we wanted to play with was fantastic. Great competition, mostly freshmen in that last stretch, but I was really proud of that."
UP NEXT
The Buffs will return home to take on Houston at the CU Events Center on Saturday, Feb. 15.
NOTES
Wednesday was Colorado's eighth different starting lineup of the season…Utah takes a 23-22 series lead…the Buffs fall to 3-7 on the road and 1-6 on the road in Big 12 play…Colorado gave up 29 points in the first quarter for the second consecutive game…Betson's third double-figure scoring game of the season…Garzon, with her 12th game of 10+ points this season…Masogayo with her 17th double-figure effort…Garzon hit three 3s to give her 281 for her career.
Team Stats
CU
Utah
FG%
.440
.509
3FG%
.500
.320
FT%
.571
.917
RB
23
36
TO
16
13
STL
7
10
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
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