Fast break
Why the Buffs lost: CU struggled offensively all night, missed six free throws and piled up 14 turnovers.
Three stars:
1. West Virginia’s Jordan Harrison: Scored 15 points, had five rebounds and four steals, including the game-winner.
2. CU’s Zyanna Walker: Led all players with 16 points, while also pulling down five rebounds.
3. CU’s Desiree Wooten: Finished with 14 points, two rebounds and a steal.
Up next: The Buffaloes will have time off as they await NCAA Selection Sunday on March 15.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Colorado had a potential trip to the Big 12 championship game stolen.
Literally.
West Virginia’s Jordan Harrison — the Big 12’s defensive player of the year — came up with a steal in the final seconds, as CU fell, 48-47, at the T-Mobile Center in the semifinals of the Big 12 women’s basketball tournament.
CU had 2.2 seconds for the final play and inbounded the ball to Jade Masogayo, who turned and went towards the hoop, but Harrison knocked the ball loose from behind, just as the buzzer sounded.
The sixth-seeded Buffs (22-11) came up one game short of their first conference title game appearance since 1997, despite a furious rally in the second half. No. 15-ranked and second-seeded West Virginia will face top-seeded TCU in Sunday’s championship.
Down 12 midway through the third quarter, CU battled back and took the lead on multiple occasions late.
Desiree Wooten’s 3-pointer with 1:08 to go gave CU a 45-43 lead, but West Virginia scored the next five to go up 48-45.
Wooten was fouled while attempting a 3-pointer with 2.9 seconds left and hit two of three free throws to cut the deficit to one. And, then West Virginia’s Gia Cooke missed two free throws, setting up the final play.
Zyanna Walker had 16 points and Wooten 14 to lead the Buffs.
CU opened the scoring on an Anaelle Dutat layup, but West Virginia responded with a 9-2 run. That gave CU its largest deficit of the week to that point, 9-4, with 4:37 to go in the first quarter.
The Buffs quickly went on a 6-0 run, however, to regain the lead, at 10-9, but closed the opening quarter with a 13-12 deficit.
Scoring was a struggle for both teams in the second quarter, as they combined for just nine points, going into intermission tied 17-17. It was the fewest points scored and allowed in a half all season for CU.
West Virginia came out of halftime and dominated the first six minutes of the third quarter. Harrison sparked a 17-5 surge to give the Mountaineers their biggest lead, 34-22, with 4:22 to play in the quarter.
CU stormed back, though, with Masogayo hitting back-to-back buckets during an 8-0 run to close the quarter, cutting the deficit to 34-30.
Walker and Wooten then scored all eight points in an 8-3 run to open the fourth that put CU ahead, 38-37, with 5:37 to play. That set up a back-and-forth final five minutes.
