Women’s basketball: Jaylyn Sherrod, CU Buffs rally past Washington State – The Denver Post
February 11, 2023It took every second on the clock and a furious rally in the fourth quarter, but the Colorado women’s basketball team finally knocked off Washington State at the CU Events Center.
Jaylyn Sherrod tied her career high with 27 points and Frida Formann came up with a game-sealing steal in the final seconds to lift the 25th-ranked Buffaloes to a 71-68 victory against Washington State on Friday night.
“I’m so proud of our team,” CU head coach JR Payne said. “I freaking love my team. I mean, we play hard, we have fun, we don’t wilt, we’re tough. When things get crazy, we dig in and stay together. This is just such a fun team to coach. Incredibly proud of how we played, how we executed when we needed to and just … man, that was all guts. We just were tough enough to win the game.”
The Buffs (19-5, 10-3 Pac-12) snapped a two-game home losing streak to the Cougars (16-8, 6-7), who came into Boulder with a six-game road winning streak overall.
Washington State appeared headed for another road upset by taking a nine-point lead into the fourth quarter, but Sherrod wasn’t going to let that happen. The senior point guard scored 15 of her 27 points in the final quarter, including 4-for-4 at the free throw line in the final 24 seconds. She had 21 points after halftime.
“I think coming out of halftime, I felt like we started a little flat and I took that kind of personally because I know my role for this team is just bringing a lot of energy and tenacity,” Sherrod said. “And I think my mentality was just like, it’s 0-0 coming out of halftime, so I just wanted to push my team whatever way. Normally it’s with defense but tonight it was with scoring.”
Sherrod, who went 10 for 12 from the floor and 6 for 7 at the line for the game, opened the quarter with a layup and 3-pointer to get the Buffs rolling.
Her two free throws with 23.9 seconds left gave the Buffs a 69-68 lead. Washington State was unable to get off a shot on its next possession, turning the ball over with about three seconds left. Sherrod was fouled and hit two more free throws with 1.5 seconds left and then Formann stole the inbounds pass on WSU’s last gasp.
“I could just see them try to pass it over me, so I just grabbed the ball,” Formann said.
Formann added 14 points on 4-of-7 shooting from 3-point range, and Quay Miller had 10 points and seven rebounds.
Wazzu star Charlisse Leger-Walker got the Cougars off to a fast start with a pair of wide open 3-pointers, helping them to an 8-2 lead. That was the largest lead of the half for either team, though, and CU responded with five quick points.
A 3-pointer by CU’s Jada Wynn tied the score at 16 at the end of the first quarter. Wynn’s shot sparked a 9-3 run by the Buffs that gave them their biggest lead of the first half, 22-19.
Formann went 3 for 3 in the second quarter on 3-pointers, but the Cougars matched the Buffs for every shot and the teams went into the half still tied, at 33-33.
The first four minutes of the third quarter changed the game, as Washington State had an 11-2 run to open up a 44-35 lead. The Buffs had four turnovers and took just two shots during that stretch and wound up playing catch-up the rest of the way.
Back-to-back buckets from the Cougars’ Jessica Clarke gave them their biggest lead, 52-41, late in the quarter. The Buffs trailed 52-43 going into the fourth.
During the quarter break, CU seemed to find new life. The Buffs opened the fourth on a 14-3 run to surge to a 57-55 lead – their first lead of the half.
The teams traded punches the rest of the way, with CU landing the knockout blows in the final moments.
Leger-Walker, who hit her first three shots from 3-point range, missed her last six, but still finished with 17 points to lead the Cougars. She also had 10 rebounds.
No. 25 Colorado 71, Washington State 68
WASHINGTON STATE (16-8, 6-7 Pac-12)
Wallack 3-4 0-0 6, Leger-Walker 7-19 0-0 17, Motuga 1-5 3-4 6, Teder 4-9 2-2 13, Murekatete 4-7 0-0 8, Tuhina 2-4 0-0 6, Clarke 5-8 2-2 12, Sarver 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-56 7-8 78.
COLORADO (19-5, 10-3 Pac-12)
Sherrod 10-12 6-7 27, Jones 1-3 2-2 4, Formann 5-11 0-0 14, Miller 3-12 4-4 10, Vonleh 4-4 0-2 8, Sadler 0-1 0-0 0, Wetta 1-3 1-1 3, Wynn 1-3 0-0 3, Whittaker 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 26-51 13-16 71.
Washington State 16 17 19 16 – 68
Colorado 16 17 10 28 – 71
3-point goals – WSU 9-21 (Leger-Walker 3-9, Teder 3-5, Tuhina 2-3, Motuga 1-3, Wallack 0-1), Colorado 6-17 (Formann 4-7, Sherrod 1-2,Wynn 1-2, Miller 0-4, Jones 0-1, Wetta 0-1). Rebounds – WSU 30 (Leger-Walker 10), Colorado 27 (Miller 7). Assists – WSU 22 (Teder 6), Colorado 10 (Wetta 5). Steals – WSU 8 (Murekatete 3), Colorado 12 (Sherrod, Miller 3). Turnovers – WSU 15, Colorado 14. Total fouls – WSU 17, Colorado 15. Fouled out – Murekatete. A – 2,055.
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