Holding an opponent to 35 points through three quarters is no easy task and senior Tayanna Jones was a big part of Colorado’s defensive dominance against Louisiana Tech on Saturday.
At 6-foot-3, Jones is a taller guard than most and she used every inch of her height to cause the Lady Techsters problems. In her 22 total minutes, she was a +17 player for the Buffs in their 59-48 win.
But it was still anybody’s game with the Buffs leading Louisiana Tech 42-35 early in the fourth quarter. Louisiana Tech had outscored CU 19-13 in the third quarter and the Buffs needed a strong final 10 minutes to hold on.
That was when Tayanna Jones went full Zion Williamson (remember this block against Virginia?) on a Louisiana Tech corner-three attempt.
.@yeatayy handing out 🎁 to the second row#ElevateYourGame || #GoBuffs 🖤💛 pic.twitter.com/XLur9OuWia
— Colorado Women's Basketball 🦬 (@CUBuffsWBB) November 27, 2021
Even though the Lady Techsters maintained possession and made a layup, the momentum-inducing play likely made Louisiana Tech think twice in open space.
“To be honest, I didn’t even know she was in the frame,” said Peanut Tuitele, who led the Buffs with 14 points. “That was an incredible block for her. I think that was the energy shift that we needed on the court at the time.”
Colorado improved to 6-0 with the win and will face Wisconsin on Sunday at noon MT in the final game of the Rocky Mountain Hoops Classic.