Colorado has suffered a collection of losses after being the nation’s final undefeated group. (Denver Submit)
Colorado is the primary, however nearly actually received’t be the final Pac-12 ladies’s basketball group to take a serious hit from a make-up schedule.
Coming off their first lack of the season on Jan. 14, following a 13-0 begin, the Buffaloes suffered three extra defeats in seven days — two of them in additional time. That despatched them on a plunge from being the nation’s last Division I unbeaten to a ninth-place tie within the Pac-12 with a 2-4 report.
“We’re the one group within the league being requested to go on the highway 4 occasions in a row – twice,” Colorado coach JR Payne stated. “That’s not simple.
“If you mix that with two additional time losses in a row on the highway, these additionally should not simple. There are a variety of very troublesome issues, nevertheless it doesn’t imply we don’t nonetheless have a job to do, and it doesn’t imply we are able to’t nonetheless execute and do what we have to do to achieve success.”
Right here’s the way it’s gone for Colorado (13-4):
— 60-52 house loss to No. 2 Stanford on Jan. 14
— 69-66 additional time loss at Oregon State on Jan. 17
— 57-52 additional time loss at Arizona State on Jan. 21
— 75-56 loss at Arizona on Jan. 23
The Buffs caught ASU coming off a three-week COVID protocol break whereas they have been enjoying for the third time in eight days.
“These are one-possession video games in opposition to groups which have had per week and a half to arrange for us,” Payne stated after the ASU loss. “We're a extremely good group, however we're additionally enjoying actually good groups.”
The Buffs nearly actually will fall out of the nationwide polls after two weeks at No. 22 (AP).
Their fourth consecutive highway recreation is arising Friday in opposition to Utah. Additionally they play 4 in a row away from Feb. 11-20 in opposition to the Bay Space and Los Angeles groups.
Oregon makes case for top-25 rating
In distinction to Colorado, the previous week went swimmingly for Arizona, Oregon, Oregon State and UCLA — all of them going 2-0, with the Geese making a case for leaping into the nationwide high 25.
Oregon pulled off a second straight top-10 upset Monday, beating ninth-ranked Connecticut 72-59, then repelled Washington in a 68-61 victory on Friday.
Chanaya Pinto was one thing of a savior for the Geese with 4 factors, two rebounds, an help and 4 steals within the fourth quarter in opposition to the Huskies. Pinto, a 6-1 ahead and native of Mozambique, is a junior faculty switch in her first season with Oregon.
The Geese have been far more dominant in opposition to short-handed UConn, which used simply six gamers. They led by 24 factors early within the fourth quarter with Sedona Prince once more arising huge, simply as she did in a win over Arizona on Jan. 15.
An indication of Oregon’s scoring depth: Te-Hina Paopao was the main scorer in opposition to UConn with 22 factors; then Endyia Rogers and Nyara Sabally scored 23 and 20, respectively, in opposition to Washington.
Arizona rewarded McKale Heart crowds in extra of seven,000 with calming wins over Utah and Colorado after losses in two of its three earlier video games.
“That is how we bounce again after a loss,” Arizona coach Adia Barnes stated after the Utah recreation. “That reveals character. If we didn’t have the diamond press, we most likely don’t win the sport. It was very efficient. We did a very good job turning them over.”
In opposition to determined Colorado, Arizona trailed 21-9 early within the second quarter then dominated thereafter, pulling even by halftime and successful the second half 46-27.
Sam Thomas had a season-high 25 factors for the Wildcats in opposition to Utah, then Shaina Pellington and Cate Reese mixed for 51 in opposition to Colorado.
“Sam’s able to that each recreation,” Barnes stated of the 6-0 senior ahead. “Sam’s the kind of participant, if she’s 0-for-3, she received’t take the fourth and fifth shot. That’s why I ran the primary play for her (vs. Utah). That's the Sam we'd like and what Sam’s able to doing.”
Right down to seven gamers with Jaelynn Penn becoming a member of an extended record of injured, UCLA nonetheless swept rival USC, 66-43 on Thursday and 68-58 on Sunday.
Junior guard Charisma Osborne is enjoying at a excessive degree regardless of quite a lot of accidents for the Bruins. She went down with 5:13 left Sunday with an obvious arm harm, solely to return 24 seconds later to assist ice a highway win. She completed with 27 factors.
“We’ve talked loads about seven is all we’ve received however seven is all we'd like,” UCLA coach Cori Shut stated, referencing the roster depletion resulting from Penn’s hand harm.
“I assumed there was a glance of their eye that that wasn’t lip service anymore. It’s wasn’t lip service, they actually believed it.”
No. 2 Stanford unloads on Cal
The Cardinal was tied 42-42 with Cal at halftime Friday earlier than powering away from its rival for a 99-74 win. The second recreation of the home-and-home collection was postponed as a result of Bears’ COVID points, so Stanford retains sole possession of first place 4 weeks into convention play.
Freshman Jayda Curry scored a season-high 30 for Cal, nevertheless it wasn’t almost sufficient when Stanford had three 20-point scorers: Haley Jones (26, plus 10 rebounds), Hannah Leap (21) and Fran Belibi (20). The Cardinal was with out guard Anna Wilson resulting from non-COVID sickness.
Utah rebounded from its loss at Arizona with a 72-63 win at ASU. The Utes led 21-4 after the primary quarter and 42-13 with two minutes left within the second.
The Solar Devils got here all the way in which again to inside six factors with 2:12 left earlier than a 3-pointer by Utah freshman Gianna Kneepkens averted a catastrophe much like the one which struck three years in the past, when ASU scored the ultimate 20 factors for a two-point win.
“At halftime, the youngsters which were right here earlier than talked about,” Utah coach Lynne Roberts stated.
“It’s irritating to come back out within the third quarter and never begin the way in which we need to. However it's important to give credit score to ASU and Charli (Turner Thorne). They've such an incredible program and tradition, I knew they weren’t going to go away.
“I feel we made it tougher on ourselves than we should always have, however they’re a aggressive group and a combating program. I knew it was coming, however I’m happy with our children for hanging in there. It’s arduous to win on this league and actually arduous on the highway.”
Kneepkens scored 20 factors, as did ASU’s Jade Loville, who sat out the Colorado recreation for precautionary causes resulting from a sore again.
The Solar Devils nonetheless received their Pac-12 opener vs. Colorado after lacking six video games resulting from COVID for one facet or the opposite.
Washington State didn't play resulting from COVID, however all different Pac-12 groups received in not less than one recreation.
Weekly lowdown
— Participant of the Week nominees: Taya Corosdale (Oregon State), Jayda Curry (Cal), Mya Hollingshed (Colorado), Jordyn Jenkins (USC), Haley Jones (Stanford), Gianna Kneepkens (Utah), Charisma Osborne (UCLA), Te-Hina Paopao (Oregon), Cate Reese (Arizona).
— Freshman of the Week nominees: Jayda Curry (Cal), Gianna Kneepkens (Utah), Kindyll Wetta (Colorado).
— Forward this week: A pair of make-up video games – Utah at Oregon, Arizona at UCLA – will likely be performed Wednesday with all of these groups dealing with three video games in 5 days, together with a highway trio for Arizona capped by Stanford on Sunday.
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