Even Kalani Sitake’s attendance couldn’t help this BYU women’s basketball team right the ship as BYU lost to Colorado Wednesday night at the Marriott Center, 67-66.
The Cougars looked to snap a four game skid in Big 12 conference play against a talented, veteran-heavy Buffaloes team. BYU now falls to 1-9 in conference play and faces the harsh reality of playing in a Power Four conference.
Delaney Gibb did all she could in this contest, whether it be driving and kicking to an open teammate, or diving on the floor for a wild rebound. Gibb scored 19 points but her last-second pass wasn’t able to be recovered by Emma Calvert.
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“It starts with me, I have to build them up again tomorrow, and we turn around and always focus on the positive,” said BYU coach Amber Whiting after the last-second defeat. “I might have gray hairs by the end of the season.”
Colorado was able to end the first half on a 13-2 run and it started with a pair of 3-pointers by Nyamer Diew, a graduate transfer from Iowa State University.
Colorado scored 20 of its bench points in the first half, showing just how deep and talented this Buffaloes team is.
The stand-out player of the game was Diew, coming off the bench to score 22 points. The Cougars lost Diew many times on defense, leaving her wide open.
“I’m really proud of both teams tonight,” said Colorado head coach JR Payne when asked about her team's resiliency. “This is what the Big 12 is all about, very competitive basketball.”
The Cougars held Jade Masogayo, one of Colorado's highest regular-season scorers, to just three minutes in the first half because she picked up two early fouls.
BYU outscored Colorado 39-31 in the second half, but the late run by the Buffaloes proved to be too much to overcome.
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BYU started the second half on an 11-4 run behind five points by Kemery Congdon, and an aggressive, physical BYU team that wasn’t present in the first half.
When the second half started, BYU looked like a completely different team; trapping Colorado with a full-court press almost every time down the floor. The Cougars quickly took a 41-40 lead with 3:21 left, but the Buffs took a two- point lead.
Both teams went punch-for-punch in the fourth quarter, with Gibb and Diew both making big plays. Not to mention the dagger shot by freshman Tabitha Betson.
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BYU looks to get back on track on Saturday against Arizona State University. ASU is also struggling in Big 12 play and has had a rough time adjusting to the new conference.