University of Colorado Athletics
Buffs Open Foreign Tour With Dominant 87-31 Victory Over Paco
August 07, 2026 | Women's Basketball
BOULDER – Colorado women's basketball opened its 2026 foreign tour in impressive fashion, cruising to an 87-31 exhibition win over Paco on Wednesday in Portugal.
"This trip has been such a special experience for our team," head coach JR Payne said. "Portugal is a beautiful country, and our players have embraced every opportunity to learn about the culture while creating memories together. Seeing everyone contribute in our first game was a great reflection of our team's unselfishness and depth, and the bonding that's taken place has been just as valuable as the basketball."
The Buffaloes wasted no time setting the tone, racing out to a 21-3 first-quarter lead behind early baskets from Anete Adler, Brooke Walker and Logyn Greer. Colorado's defensive pressure and balanced offensive attack never allowed Paco to find a rhythm, as the Buffs controlled the game from the opening tip.
Colorado carried that momentum into the second quarter, extending its advantage to 41-14 by halftime. Walker scored seven of her nine points in the period, including a three-pointer, while Adler continued her efficient afternoon en route to a game-high 16 points on 8-of-10 shooting.
Paco opened the second half with a brief 6-0 run, but the Buffs quickly responded with baskets from Claire O'Connor and Adler to regain control. Colorado entered the fourth quarter comfortably in front before closing the game on another strong note.
Aniya' Foy sparked the final period with nine of her 15 points, knocking down a three-pointer and converting at the free throw line to help stretch the lead past 50. Mecailin Marshall added nine points, connecting on three shots from beyond the arc, as Colorado showcased its depth with contributions throughout the lineup in the 56-point victory.
The exhibition marked the first game action for several new Buffs, including Colorado's transfer class and incoming freshmen, as the team continues to build chemistry ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Following the opening win, the Buffaloes have continued to take in the sights and culture of Portugal as part of their 10-day foreign tour. The team explored the streets of Lisbon on a Tuk Tuk tour before visiting the iconic Estádio da Luz, home of Portuguese soccer club Benfica, for a behind-the-scenes guided tour. The Buffs also made a stop at the scenic Boca do Inferno cliffs in Cascais, taking in one of Portugal's most recognizable coastal landmarks while continuing to strengthen team chemistry off the court.
Colorado's foreign tour provides the program with 10 additional practice days and two exhibition contests, giving the Buffs valuable time to integrate five transfers and two freshmen before the start of the regular season. The team will continue its trip with additional sightseeing and exhibition action before returning to Boulder later this month.
Season tickets for the 2026-27 Colorado women's basketball season are on sale now, with single-game tickets to be announced at a later date. Click HERE to get your season tickets today!
Head Coach JR Payne is entering her 11th season at the helm of Colorado Women's Basketball. During her 10th season, the Buffaloes played their second season back in the Big 12, finishing the season 22-12 and 11-7 against conference opponents. CU recorded four ranked wins on the 2025-26 season over No. 19 Iowa State (68-62), No. 14 TCU (80-79), No. 20 Texas Tech (75-68), and No. 20 Baylor (62-53) in the Big 12 Tournament to get to the semifinals. Colorado women's basketball wrapped up the 2025-26 season with its 17th NCAA Tournament appearance all-time, falling 66-57 in the First Round to seven-seed Illinois (Mar. 21). The Buffs have won over 20 games in each of the last five seasons and have appeared in the NCAA Tournament in four of the last five years.
For more information on the Colorado women's basketball team, please visit cubuffs.com/wbb. Fans of the Buffs can follow @cubuffswbb on Instagram, X, and Facebook.
"This trip has been such a special experience for our team," head coach JR Payne said. "Portugal is a beautiful country, and our players have embraced every opportunity to learn about the culture while creating memories together. Seeing everyone contribute in our first game was a great reflection of our team's unselfishness and depth, and the bonding that's taken place has been just as valuable as the basketball."
The Buffaloes wasted no time setting the tone, racing out to a 21-3 first-quarter lead behind early baskets from Anete Adler, Brooke Walker and Logyn Greer. Colorado's defensive pressure and balanced offensive attack never allowed Paco to find a rhythm, as the Buffs controlled the game from the opening tip.
Colorado carried that momentum into the second quarter, extending its advantage to 41-14 by halftime. Walker scored seven of her nine points in the period, including a three-pointer, while Adler continued her efficient afternoon en route to a game-high 16 points on 8-of-10 shooting.
Paco opened the second half with a brief 6-0 run, but the Buffs quickly responded with baskets from Claire O'Connor and Adler to regain control. Colorado entered the fourth quarter comfortably in front before closing the game on another strong note.
Aniya' Foy sparked the final period with nine of her 15 points, knocking down a three-pointer and converting at the free throw line to help stretch the lead past 50. Mecailin Marshall added nine points, connecting on three shots from beyond the arc, as Colorado showcased its depth with contributions throughout the lineup in the 56-point victory.
The exhibition marked the first game action for several new Buffs, including Colorado's transfer class and incoming freshmen, as the team continues to build chemistry ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Following the opening win, the Buffaloes have continued to take in the sights and culture of Portugal as part of their 10-day foreign tour. The team explored the streets of Lisbon on a Tuk Tuk tour before visiting the iconic Estádio da Luz, home of Portuguese soccer club Benfica, for a behind-the-scenes guided tour. The Buffs also made a stop at the scenic Boca do Inferno cliffs in Cascais, taking in one of Portugal's most recognizable coastal landmarks while continuing to strengthen team chemistry off the court.
Colorado's foreign tour provides the program with 10 additional practice days and two exhibition contests, giving the Buffs valuable time to integrate five transfers and two freshmen before the start of the regular season. The team will continue its trip with additional sightseeing and exhibition action before returning to Boulder later this month.
Season tickets for the 2026-27 Colorado women's basketball season are on sale now, with single-game tickets to be announced at a later date. Click HERE to get your season tickets today!
Head Coach JR Payne is entering her 11th season at the helm of Colorado Women's Basketball. During her 10th season, the Buffaloes played their second season back in the Big 12, finishing the season 22-12 and 11-7 against conference opponents. CU recorded four ranked wins on the 2025-26 season over No. 19 Iowa State (68-62), No. 14 TCU (80-79), No. 20 Texas Tech (75-68), and No. 20 Baylor (62-53) in the Big 12 Tournament to get to the semifinals. Colorado women's basketball wrapped up the 2025-26 season with its 17th NCAA Tournament appearance all-time, falling 66-57 in the First Round to seven-seed Illinois (Mar. 21). The Buffs have won over 20 games in each of the last five seasons and have appeared in the NCAA Tournament in four of the last five years.
For more information on the Colorado women's basketball team, please visit cubuffs.com/wbb. Fans of the Buffs can follow @cubuffswbb on Instagram, X, and Facebook.
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