Colorado Beats Kansas 69-66 in OT
Colorado Buffaloes edged Kansas 69-66 in a dramatic overtime contest in the Big 12 women's basketball tournament. The game was tightly contested throughout regulation before Colorado ultimately prevailed in the extra period. This result eliminates Kansas from the tournament and highlights the competitiveness of the Big 12 conference as March Madness approaches.
The victory for No. 6 seed Colorado was a significant step for their NCAA Tournament aspirations. Heading into the game, many experts considered the Buffaloes a "bubble team," but the win likely provides them with more security ahead of Selection Sunday. The win came just a day after head coach JR Payne's contract was extended through the 2031 season. Freshman Logyn Greer was a standout for Colorado, contributing 10 points, six rebounds, and four blocks. Her performance, along with Desiree Wooten's 10 points and four assists, paced the Buffaloes. This win improves Colorado's season record to 21-10. The Buffaloes' defense was a deciding factor, holding Kansas to just 36% shooting from the field and a meager 15% from three-point range. Colorado dominated on the boards, outrebounding the Jayhawks 39-25, which helped control the pace of the game. For No. 11 seed Kansas, S'Mya Nichols led all scorers with 14 points, marking the 28th time this season she has scored in double figures. Despite her effort, the Jayhawks couldn't find a consistent offensive rhythm. The loss drops their record to 19-13, and they now must wait to see if they will receive an invitation to a postseason tournament. This matchup was the first time the two former conference rivals have met in the Big 12 Tournament since 2011. Colorado's victory was their only one of the day for a team that had a first-round bye, after a day of upsets in the tournament. With this win, Colorado advances to the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Tournament. They are set to face No. 3 seed Baylor, a team ranked 20th in the country. In their only meeting during the regular season, Baylor defeated Colorado in a close contest.
