STILLWATER, Okla. – Colorado Buffaloes women's basketball (17-10, 8-8 Big 12) has dropped four of its last five games, losing 82-65 to No. 24 Oklahoma State (22-5, 12-4) on Saturday.
Colorado struggled to contain Oklahoma State’s leading scorer, Sailee Heard, who recorded 26 points on 50% shooting. The Buffs were led by Ayianna Johnson’s 20 points and Jade Masogayo’s 14. Assist leader Kindyll Wetta returned from injury and dished out a team-high seven assists.
The Buffs got off to a hot start, dominating in the paint with 18 of their 19 points coming from inside the key. Colorado minimized turnovers and kept Heard at bay, limiting her to just one made field goal in the first quarter.
The Buffs gained their largest lead of the game at six points with 1:43 left in the opening quarter after an 11-2 run. However, three of CU’s four turnovers in the first came in the last minute, allowing Oklahoma State to go on a 7-0 run and take a 20-19 lead at the end of the first.
The difference between the first and second quarters was Oklahoma State’s defense. The Cowgirls locked their heels and forced seven Colorado turnovers, converting them into 13 points.
"I think they dialed up the pressure, and I think we got a little frazzled," head coach JR Payne said of the stretch. "We'd have to go back and watch it to figure out what we could have done differently. I thought it was a combination of their pressure and us not being as composed as we needed to be."
The Buffs' scoring in the second quarter came primarily from Johnson, who contributed 10 of Colorado’s 13 points, but it wasn’t enough. Much like in the first quarter, Oklahoma State ended the second on a 6-0 run, extending its lead to 14 points at halftime.
CU’s 14-point deficit was too much to overcome in the third quarter, despite it being its best period. The Buffs limited turnovers and attacked the paint, scoring 12 points inside. They also capitalized on Oklahoma State’s mistakes, scoring five points off three Cowgirl turnovers and adding four second-chance points.
Despite the momentum shifting in Colorado’s favor, Oklahoma State never let the Buffs get any closer than an eight-point deficit.
Oklahoma State opened the fourth quarter by extending its lead to a game-high 19 points. The rest of the game was merely window dressing, as Colorado was unable to cut the deficit back to single digits.
Multiple Buffs were in foul trouble throughout the game, with former Cowgirl Lior Garzon fouling out early in the fourth during her return to Stillwater. Oklahoma State kept Colorado at arm’s length in the second half, securing a 17-point victory.
Colorado returns home for Senior Night on Wednesday against the Arizona State Sun Devils (8-19, 2-13). Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. MT on ESPN+.
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