WATCH: Oliver Hayes recaps the No. 8 CU Buffaloes win over the No. 12 Utah Utes. (Video by Roberto Patrick Gerra/Sko Buffs Sports)
BOULDER – "I've always said, if I don't bring the most energy and passion on the court, then I'm not doing my job for my team," said Colorado Buffaloes point guard Jaylyn Sherrod following a historic 34-point showing to open conference play on Saturday afternoon.
The energetic and passionate performance fueled No. 8-ranked CU women's basketball to open their final Pac-12 campaign on the right foot, taking down the No. 12-ranked Utah Utes 76-65.
Colorado's victory moves their regular season record to 11-1, still yet to be defeated at home in the CU Events Center. The Utes, meanwhile, drop to 10-3, with all three losses coming against ranked opponents.
Sherrod exploded for a career-high 34 points, four assists, four rebounds, and six steals in the win. The point total tied Britney Spears' performance in 2010 for the second-most in any game by an individual in the history of the program. It was also the first 30-point game by a CU women's player since Mya Hollingshed in 2021.
"Our upperclassmen, Jaylyn in particular, talked a lot to the group this week about playing in the Pac-12," said Colorado head coach JR Payne following the win. "Everything is harder. You have to have a more focused mindset, a more disciplined approach, just everything has to be elevated. And our team I think really did that."
Combining with Sherrod for 23 of the Buffs' 25 points during the game's catalytic fourth quarter was junior center Aaronette Vonleh, scoring 10 of her 18 total points in the period. Her mid-range jumper with 2:20 left in the fourth sent the Boulder crowd into a frenzy and put Colorado at a six-point advantage that would only grow as the contest concluded.
Vonleh battled in the trenches with star Ute forward Alissa Pili all afternoon. Although the talented Pili led Utah by far with 27 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists, CU's defense forced her to turn the ball over five times in the second half and contained her production.
"More pressure, making her more uncomfortable," said Vonleh regarding the change in her defensive strategy on Pili as the game wore on. "The adjustment was just to be more aggressive and to make her have to make a different decision than what she wants to do."
Senior forward Sara-Rose Smith stepped up extremely well on a day where CU struggled to find consistent contributions other than Sherrod's, as usual stars Frida Formann and Quay Miller combined to score just three points.
Smith logged her first career double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds, along with swiping four crucial steals.
The game had a nip-and-tuck feel for just about 39 of its 40 minutes, as neither Pac-12 heavyweight gained a lead of more than five points throughout the first half.
Formann's only points of the afternoon came on a three-pointer to put the Buffs up by seven with 6:58 left in the third quarter, but Utah responded with a 10-0 run and led by three going into the fourth.
"Basketball is a game of runs and Utah is a great team. We talked about it all week, they're going to go on the run," mentioned Sherrod. "They're just built like that offensively, but it's about how you withstand it and how you come back from it."
Early in the final period, Utah guard Kennady McQueen nailed a three-pointer to momentarily silence the CU faithful and give the Utes their largest lead of the game to that point, 59-51.
But after JR Payne called a timeout, it was all Buffs. Colorado responded by giving up just six points in the game's closing 8:46 while scoring 25 of their own. Sherrod, Vonleh, and Kindyll Wetta attacked the basket relentlessly, racking up 14 points in the paint and nine free throw makes on 13 attempts.
CU took the lead back with 5:27 left in the game, surging forward on yet another one of their late-game runs so far this season. They put together a defensive masterclass in the contest's most important moments and ground the Utes' attack to a halt to pull away with the win.
"That was the best defensive 40-minute game we've had all year," added Sherrod. "We're getting back to Colorado basketball with that."
Another massive factor in CU's win was the historic crowd. The highly-anticipated conference opener hosted 7,383 fans, the most for any regular season women's basketball game in Boulder since 2002. The atmosphere inside the CU Events Center was as electric as ever.
"Special shoutout to just Buff Nation for coming out like they did," Payne opened with following the win. "That means everything because most of us have been here a long time and worked really hard to build a program that everyone can be really proud of, on and off the court. And so, to have that many people here supporting us is awesome."
The Buffs now travel to Tuscon, Arizona for a bout with the 8-4 Wildcats on Friday (Jan. 5). Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. MST.
Cover photo by Roberto Patrick Gerra/Sko Buffs Sports
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