The fifth-seeded Colorado Buffaloes moved past many of their late-season woes in one game, beating the 12th-seeded Oregon Ducks, 79-30, in the first round of the Pac-12 women’s basketball tournament on Wednesday.
Colorado was firing on all cylinders early and held the Ducks to only 11 first-half points — the fewest in the history of the Pac-12 Tournament. On the game, Oregon went 10-for-53 from the field and made only one of its 13 3-point shots. The Buffs also forced Oregon into 18 turnovers.
Offensively, the Buffs were just as impressive, handing out 24 assists on 33 makes while converting half of its 18 shots from deep. Frida Formann also passed Buffaloes great and current assistant coach Shelley Sheetz for second on the school’s all-time 3-pointers made list. Formann sits at 254 in her career, with only Bianca Smith (257) ahead of her.
It wasn’t all good news, as backup forward Charlotte Whittaker rolled her ankle late in the fourth quarter and had to be helped off the court by trainers. Fortunately, CU head coach JR Payne said the injury isn’t serious, according to Ralphie Report’s Rylan Scholes.
Colorado will look for some revenge in its next game against Oregon State, a team that has defeated the Buffs twice this season.
Thursday’s Pac-12 Tournament quarterfinal game between the Buffs and Beavers tips off at 1 p.m. MT on the Pac-12 Network.
Stampeding into the second round ✅ pic.twitter.com/sQKBbBbTIf
— Pac-12 Conference (@pac12) March 6, 2024
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