Colorado University Athletics
Saturday, March 21
Nashville, Tenn.
7:30 PM
Colorado
57
vs
66
Illinois
Colorado Falls to Illinois in NCAA First Round, 66-57
March 21, 2026 | Women's Basketball
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The 10th-seeded Colorado women's basketball team (22-12, 11-7 Big 12) fell to seven-seed Illinois (22-11, 9-9 Big Ten), 66-57, at Memorial Gymnasium in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament on Saturday, Mar. 21.
The Buffaloes battled with the Illini in the first round of March Madness, led by Jr. G Desiree Wooten's 21 points. Colorado gained a lead, but Illinois fought back to end the first up by two. The Illini extended their lead in the second and third quarters, but the Black and Gold went on a run at the end of the third and beginning of the fourth to come within one. However, the Buffaloes couldn't take the lead and ended the game, 66-57.
"Both teams played really hard. We held them way below their average, as we've done most nights of the year defensively, but in the end, everyone that's playing right now is really, really good," head coach JR Payne said. "Illinois is really, really good and really talented, and they scored a few more than we did. So two good teams. […] I think it was a fun game to watch. I'm proud of how we competed and, again, someone has to win and someone has to lose."
Colorado had more points in the paint (36-30), rebounds (34-32), bench points (22-9), fast break points (6-4) and blocks (5-1) than Illinois.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Sr. F Jade Masogayo opened the first quarter with a layup in the paint (2-0, CU). Illinois sunk a layup, but So. F Tabitha Betson and Masogayo each scored a layup for the Buffs to extend their lead (6-2, CU). The Illini scored four points, but a shooting foul allowed Jr. G Zyanna Walker to make two free throws (8-6, CU). Illinois made a jumper and a three to take the lead (11-8, UI). Masogayo scored off a turnaround jumper to bring Colorado within one, and the teams were sent to the media timeout (11-10, UI). Colorado and Illinois traded buckets, with Wooten scoring a pull-up jumper and a layup, assisted by Fr. F Logyn Greer (15-14, UI). The Black and Gold took the lead with a layup from Masogayo in the paint and a driving layup from Wooten, but Illinois scored five points to end the first, 20-18 (UI).
Both teams saw a slower start in the second, but Illinois scored a three before the teams went to the media timeout (23-18, UI). Walker scored a layup in the paint, and Wooten followed with a jumper (23-22, UI). The Illini went on a five-point run, but Betson ended Illini run with two free throws (28-24, UI). Illinois made a jumper, and Wooten followed with one for the Buffaloes (30-26, UI). Greer made a three-point jumper with an assist from Wooten to bring CU within one, but Illinois scored four to end the half, 34-29 (UI).
The third quarter started with a jumper from Illinois (36-29, UI). Colorado found momentum and went on a five-point run from a Sr. F Anaëlle Dutat jumper, as well as an and-one jumper from Masogayo (36-34, UI). The Illini scored two free throws, but Masogayo made a layup in the paint with an assist by Dutat (38-36, UI). Illinois went on a 7-0 run that ended with a Dutat layup, assisted by Betson (45-38, UI). Colorado extended its scoring run to six with two free throws from Walker and a layup from Dutat (45-42, UI). Illinois ended the run with a jumper, but Wooten ended the quarter with a layup in the paint (47-44, UI).
Dutat made a layup 18 seconds into the fourth (47-46, UI). The Illini scored four points, but a steal from Greer allowed Wooten to make a layup (51-48, UI). A jumper from Illinois was answered with one from Greer (53-50, UI). The Illini made a three, but the Buffaloes held them scoreless for two minutes as Jr. G Maeve McErlane assisted Walker on a jumper (56-52, UI). Illinois made a jumper, and Masogayo followed with a layup in the paint (58-54, UI). The Illini scored four points and then sent Wooten to the line for a free throw for a shooting foul (62-55, UI). Illinois made two pairs of free throws, and a final pair from Wooten ended the game, 66-57 (UI).
PLAYER STATS:
POSTGAME NOTES:
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.
The Buffaloes battled with the Illini in the first round of March Madness, led by Jr. G Desiree Wooten's 21 points. Colorado gained a lead, but Illinois fought back to end the first up by two. The Illini extended their lead in the second and third quarters, but the Black and Gold went on a run at the end of the third and beginning of the fourth to come within one. However, the Buffaloes couldn't take the lead and ended the game, 66-57.
"Both teams played really hard. We held them way below their average, as we've done most nights of the year defensively, but in the end, everyone that's playing right now is really, really good," head coach JR Payne said. "Illinois is really, really good and really talented, and they scored a few more than we did. So two good teams. […] I think it was a fun game to watch. I'm proud of how we competed and, again, someone has to win and someone has to lose."
Colorado had more points in the paint (36-30), rebounds (34-32), bench points (22-9), fast break points (6-4) and blocks (5-1) than Illinois.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Sr. F Jade Masogayo opened the first quarter with a layup in the paint (2-0, CU). Illinois sunk a layup, but So. F Tabitha Betson and Masogayo each scored a layup for the Buffs to extend their lead (6-2, CU). The Illini scored four points, but a shooting foul allowed Jr. G Zyanna Walker to make two free throws (8-6, CU). Illinois made a jumper and a three to take the lead (11-8, UI). Masogayo scored off a turnaround jumper to bring Colorado within one, and the teams were sent to the media timeout (11-10, UI). Colorado and Illinois traded buckets, with Wooten scoring a pull-up jumper and a layup, assisted by Fr. F Logyn Greer (15-14, UI). The Black and Gold took the lead with a layup from Masogayo in the paint and a driving layup from Wooten, but Illinois scored five points to end the first, 20-18 (UI).
Both teams saw a slower start in the second, but Illinois scored a three before the teams went to the media timeout (23-18, UI). Walker scored a layup in the paint, and Wooten followed with a jumper (23-22, UI). The Illini went on a five-point run, but Betson ended Illini run with two free throws (28-24, UI). Illinois made a jumper, and Wooten followed with one for the Buffaloes (30-26, UI). Greer made a three-point jumper with an assist from Wooten to bring CU within one, but Illinois scored four to end the half, 34-29 (UI).
The third quarter started with a jumper from Illinois (36-29, UI). Colorado found momentum and went on a five-point run from a Sr. F Anaëlle Dutat jumper, as well as an and-one jumper from Masogayo (36-34, UI). The Illini scored two free throws, but Masogayo made a layup in the paint with an assist by Dutat (38-36, UI). Illinois went on a 7-0 run that ended with a Dutat layup, assisted by Betson (45-38, UI). Colorado extended its scoring run to six with two free throws from Walker and a layup from Dutat (45-42, UI). Illinois ended the run with a jumper, but Wooten ended the quarter with a layup in the paint (47-44, UI).
Dutat made a layup 18 seconds into the fourth (47-46, UI). The Illini scored four points, but a steal from Greer allowed Wooten to make a layup (51-48, UI). A jumper from Illinois was answered with one from Greer (53-50, UI). The Illini made a three, but the Buffaloes held them scoreless for two minutes as Jr. G Maeve McErlane assisted Walker on a jumper (56-52, UI). Illinois made a jumper, and Masogayo followed with a layup in the paint (58-54, UI). The Illini scored four points and then sent Wooten to the line for a free throw for a shooting foul (62-55, UI). Illinois made two pairs of free throws, and a final pair from Wooten ended the game, 66-57 (UI).
PLAYER STATS:
- Jr. G Desiree Wooten scored 17 points, as well as seven rebounds and one assist.
- Jr. G Zyanna Walker tallied eight points, one rebound, one steal and one assist.
- Sr. F Anaëlle Dutat saw eight points, six rebounds, one block, one steal and one assist.
- Sr. F Jade Masogayo reached 15 points, five rebounds and one block.
- Fr. F Logyn Greer had six rebounds, five points, three blocks, one steal and one assist.
- So. F Tabitha Betson recorded five rebounds, four points and three assists.
- Jr. G Maeve McErlane had one assist and one rebound.
- Fr. C Jade Crook had one steal and one rebound.
- For the Fighting Illini, Cearah Parchment had 21 points and five rebounds.
POSTGAME NOTES:
- The Buffs move to 4-3 all-time against the Illini and 0-1 in conference tournament play versus Illinois.
- All-time, the Buffs move to 21-17 in NCAA tournament games and 11-6 in the First Round.
- Head Coach JR Payne moves to 186-128 (.592) all-time.
- Colorado had more points in the paint (36-30), rebounds (34-32), bench points (22-9), fast break points (6-4) and blocks (5-1) than Illinois.
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.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
F
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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