Women’s basketball: CU Buffs battle past Wyoming in season opener

LARAMIE, Wyo. – Having a roster loaded with newcomers, Colorado women’s basketball coach JR Payne has had no idea who would have the ability to step up in crunch time.

Payne and the Buffs might have got an answer on opening night.

Senior Lior Garzon scored a game-high 20 points in lifting CU to a 56-50 win against Wyoming at Arena-Auditorium.

Garzon, a transfer from Oklahoma State, hit a long jumper with 42 seconds to play to bump the lead to four points, and then went 3-for-4 at the free throw line in the final 33 seconds to cap the 900th victory in program history.

“The great thing about it, Lior is totally unafraid of it,” Payne said. “She wants the ball when the game’s on the line. She wants the ball when we need a bucket, and things like that.

“I thought so many different people did so many great things. I could probably go down the entire roster and talk about something that they contributed to help us win tonight.”

In addition to Garzon, senior Sara-Rose Smith posted six points and 11 rebounds; Nyamer Diew had eight points, six rebounds and a massive blocked shot with 34 seconds to play; Jade Masogayo had eight points; and Kindyll Wetta filled the stat sheet with three points, six rebounds, five assists and a steal before fouling out.

Yet, the Buffs had to overcome a miserable first half to rally past a veteran team that is among the favorites in the Mountain West Conference.

“I think it was huge,” Garzon said of getting the win. “We came in today and we were like, we need to win the game. We don’t care how. We knew it was gonna be tough. Nobody thought it was gonna be an easy game and we’re just gonna walk away. But we just knew we’re going to need to win the game, no matter what we need to do. I think it was great for us to get a win.”

CU trailed 24-18 at the half after starting the game 1-for-9 from the floor and finishing the half on a 1-for-10 skid.

A big third quarter propelled the Buffs, who led by as many as eight early in the fourth quarter. Wyoming, led by star center Allyson Fertig (18 points, five rebounds) pulled within 50-48 going into the final minute, though.

That’s when Garzon drained a long jumper to give the Buffs some breathing room.

“I think, just like, I really want to win, so I’m like, ‘Hey, if I need to take it, I’m just gonna take it. I’m not gonna wait for anyone to tell me,’” Garzon said. “I think that’s what the team needed today. Next game can be someone else.”

On this night, though, it was Garzon hitting the key shot, while several others came through, as well.

“I was very proud of our team tonight,” Payne said. “This is a very tough environment. Not a lot of people come here and win. Not a lot of people will come here and win this year because of their veterans, and they’re very well-coached.

“This is what we need. We have to figure out, who are we when we’re down? Who are we when our backs are against the wall? How will we respond? So this actually provided us a really incredible opportunity.”

CU made just 33.9% of its shots (21-of-62), including 1-for-10 from 3-point range. The Buffs also uncharacteristically made just 13 of 24 free throws (54.2%). But, they are 1-0.

“We knew it was going to be a tough environment, but it’s just one of those ones that grinding it out is OK,” Smith said. “Is that how we wanted to play the game? No, but it’s OK. We came out with a win, and we can move into the rest of the week.”

Notable

CU has won 25 consecutive season openers and improved to 46-5 all-time in openers. … Monday was the 100th career game for Wetta. … Forward Tabitha Betson became the first freshman to start a season opener for the Buffs since Annika Jank on Nov. 10, 2017, at Samford. … CU went 0-for-5 on 3-pointers in the first half. It was the first half without a made 3-pointer since Feb. 19, 2023, at Arizona. … Senior Frida Formann missed the game with a foot injury.

Fast break

Why the Buffs won: CU overcame a rough night of shooting by playing exceptional defense and hitting some timely shots in crunch time. They also dominated in rebounding in the second half.

Three stars:

1. CU’s Lior Garzon: Scored 20 points in her Buffs debut, including a long jumper with 42 seconds left to bump the lead to four.

2. CU’s Sara-Rose Smith: Finished with a game-high 11 rebounds, along with six points.

3. Wyoming’s Allyson Fertig: Posted 18 points and five rebounds despite some foul trouble.

Up next: The Buffs will host Northern Colorado in the home opener on Thursday at the CU Events Center (7 p.m., ESPN+).

Colorado 56, Wyoming 50

COLORADO (1-0)

Diew 2-7 4-4 8, Garzon 7-14 5-6 20, Masogayo 3-9 2-4 8, Wetta 1-3 1-4 3, Betson 1-9 0-0 2, Johnson 3-9 0-2 6, Sanders 0-1 0-0 0, Smith 3-9 0-2 6, Teder 1-1 1-2 3. Totals 21-62 13-24 56.

WYOMING (0-1)

Mellema 4-13 0-2 8, Barnes 3-9 5-6 13, Pedersen 1-8 0-0 2, Ustowska 3-5 0-0 7, Fertig 7-11 4-5 18, Alvar 0-0 0-2 0, Muma 0-0 0-0 0, Symons 0-0 0-0 0, Ollilainen 1-2 0-0 2, Hamlin 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 19-49 9-15 50.

Colorado                     10        8          20        18        –           56

Wyoming                    15        9          10        16        –           50

3-point goals – CU 1-10 (Garzon 1-4, Betson 0-4, Smith 0-2), Wyoming 3-15 (Barnes 2-6, Ustowska 1-3, Pedersen 0-4, Mellema 0-1, Ollilainen 0-1). Rebounds – CU 45 (Smith 11), Wyoming 34 (Barnes 7). Assists – CU 10 (Wetta 5), Wyoming 11 (Pedersen 4). Steals – CU 6 (Garzon 3), Wyoming 6 (Mellema 4). Turnovers – CU 12, Wyoming 19. Total fouls – CU 19, Wyoming 18. Fouled out – Wetta. Attendance – 3,866.

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