LAS VEGAS – Nationally, this was an upset. A big upset. Led by their veterans, the 20th-ranked Buffs dominated defending national champion and No. 1-ranked LSU, 92-78, at T-Mobile Arena.
“We just made our minds up that no matter what, we were going to go out there and compete and we weren’t going to lose,” senior point guard Jaylyn Sherrod said. “I feel like I felt that across the board: coaches, teammates, family, fans. Like, everybody believed that was with us. And to be honest, that’s all we ever needed on this team. When we make our minds up and we believe in ourselves, I think we can truly be unstoppable. I think that’s what tonight was about.”
Colorado guard Frida Formann (3) celebrates after making a 3-point shot against LSU during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
LSU won its first national title last season and returned All-American forward Angel Reese, brought in two All-American transfers and the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation.
Last week, legendary Tigers coach Kim Mulkey praised the poised and veteran Buffs and said CU was facing her team at the right time. What sounded like coach-speak at the time turned out to be prophetic.
Frida Formann tied the school record with seven 3-pointers and scored a career-high 27 points, Aaronette Vonleh had 24 points and six rebounds and Sherrod posted 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists as the Buffs led by as many as 22 points and never trailed in the final 24 minutes of the game.
“Just wow, what a great, great game,” CU head coach JR Payne said. “Just proud of our team. I’m always proud of our team. We’ve got great young women in our program. I love their tenacity. I love their fearlessness. I love their grit and toughness. It’s what we’re built upon. So, for a game like this – that a large part of the world said no to, a large part of the world said, ‘Why would you play that game?’ – it was everything that we wanted. We wanted the challenge. We wanted to take our team into the national spotlight so that I could show the world how great they are.”
It’s just the second win over a No. 1-ranked team in CU history, the first being a 77-72 overtime win against Stanford on Jan. 27, 2021. In the history of CU athletics, there has only been two other wins over No. 1 teams, both by the volleyball team (in 2006 and 2013).
Prior to Monday, CU had never played against a ranked opponent, let alone No. 1, in a season opener. Yet, in winning an opener for the 24th straight season, the Buffs seemingly picked up where they left off in the NCAA Tournament.
CU came out aggressive and built an early 6-2 lead, but LSU’s Hailey Van Lith hit back-to-back 3-pointers to spark an 8-0 run for the Tigers. The Tigers built their biggest lead of the night, 24-18, after a Reese put-back with 6 minutes, 10 seconds left in the first half.
LSU guard Hailey Van Lith (11) guards Colorado guard Jaylyn Sherrod (0) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
The Buffs took off from there, though. Sherrod, moments after limping off the court and getting looked at by trainers, scored on consecutive 3-point plays to highlight a 14-1 run that gave the Buffs a 32-25 lead with 2:14 to play in the half.
“Honestly, it was just I don’t feel like I came out being aggressive,” she said. “And I didn’t come out being myself, just kind of thinking things through or trying to settle into the first game. So I just kind of settled and once I did, I just did what I do, which is driving to the basket. I think it was just me settling into the game.”
Her second three-point play gave CU a 25-24 lead and it never trailed again.
Formann hit four of her 3s in the third quarter as CU built a 63-49 lead, and then another during an 11-0 run early in the fourth that essentially put the game away.
“I think when I’m in that mood, it’s just, it’s hitting my hands and I’m just shooting it,” she said. “And, I think with this team, too, we know who’s getting hot, so I just know that the ball is gonna find me and my shot’s gonna be there.”
LSU had no answer for Formann, Vonleh or Sherrod and the Buffs took full advantage of the national spotlight and playing on TNT to showcase their game in a matchup that several other teams declined to play.
“I know how great they are,” Payne said of her team. “I want the world to know how great they are. They’re great teammates. They’re great students. They compete. Like I said, they’re totally fearless. So for me, I want the world to know and we did that today.”
No. 20 Colorado 92, No. 1 LSU 78
COLORADO (1-0)
Sherrod 5-12 9-12 19, Sadler 2-3 1-1 5, Formann 9-15 2-2 27, Miller 2-7 2-6 8, Vonleh 11-15 2-3 24, Smith 2-3 0-0 5, Wetta 2-4 0-0 4, Nolan 0-3 0-0 0, McLeod 0-0 0-0 0, Whittaker 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 33-63 16-24 92.
LSU (0-1)
Johnson 1-3 0-0 3, Reese 6-15 3-5 15, Van Lith 4-11 4-6 14, Williams 8-16 0-0 17, Morrow 2-9 2-2 6, Velez 0-0 1-2 1, Bartlett 2-2 0-0 4, Smith 6-8 4-5 16, Poa 0-1 2-2 2, Kent 0-0 0-0 0, Del Rosario 0-0 0-0 0, Poole 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 29-66 16-24 78.
Colorado 14 24 25 29 – 92
LSU 16 16 19 27 – 78
3-point field goals – Colorado 10-23 (Formann 7-11, Miller 2-3, Smith 1-2, Sherrod 0-3, Nolan 0-2, Sadler 0-1, Wetta 0-1). LSU 4-10 (Van Lith 2-4, Williams 1-2, Johnson 1-1, Morrow 0-1, Poa 0-1, Poole 0-1). Rebounds – Colorado 37 (Sherrod 8), LSU 39 (Reese 12). Assists – Colorado 24 (Sherrod 6), LSU 13 (Van Lith 7). Steals – Colorado 11 (Sherrod, Sadler 3), LSU 6 (Van Lith, Morrow 2). Turnovers – Colorado 21, LSU 19. Total fouls – Colorado 26, LSU 20. Fouled out – Wetta.
By BRIAN HOWELL
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