CU newcomers providing a boost

6 players hoping to make impact

There was a time this summer when the Colorado women’s basketball team wasn’t sure if freshman Frida Formann would make it to Boulder in time to play this season.

A native of Denmark, Formann paid close attention to multiple changes in travel restrictions that came with the coronavirus pandemic. She didn’t know if she could get to Colorado before Christmas, or if she’d have to quarantine in another country for two weeks before getting to the United States.

“It was a whirlwind of a summer,” she said this week. “Every day was a new situation and it was very frustrating, but the relief was just amazing when I finally was able to get here, do my 14 days of quarantine and be with the team.”

Formann now flashes a big smile as she is comfortably in Boulder and, along with the rest of CU’S newcomers, adjusting to a new location, a new team and a new level of basketball.

“It’s definitely nice there were so many newcomers and you don’t feel like the odd one out,” Formann said.

Coming off a season in which they went 16-14 and likely would have received a bid to the Women’s NIT had it not been cancelled by the pandemic, the Buffs are optimistic. Much of that stems from the return of several veterans – four of the top five scorers and seven key rotational players are back – but also the talent among the newcomers.

Of the 16 players on the roster, six are new to the team, including junior Tayanna Jones, a transfer from Georgetown; and sophomore Madison Buford, a transfer from Rend Lake Community College.

The freshman group includes Formann; Kylee Backsten, from Air Academy High School; Allysa Lafontaine, from Fort

Worth, Texas; and Sophie Gerber, a walk-on from Scottsdale, Ariz.

“There’s a lot of people who need to learn,” Formann said. “Everyone on the team who has been here for a while, they are aware of that and are really good at helping us and making sure we get into it quickly and smoothly.”

Blacksten, who is rooming with Formann, said she’s already learned a lot in the first couple weeks of practice and she’s encouraged by watching all the freshmen.

“It’s been really nice because the upperclassmen have been kind of taken us under their wings and helped us,” she said. “Drawing plays out, we’re learning them, they’re running through them with us.”

To this point, Blacksten said, college life has basically been studying in the dorms or going to practice, but she’s enjoying the competitiveness.

“You go as hard as you possibly can between the lines and then as soon as you’re off, you’re best friends again,” she said.

For Blacksten, the biggest adjustment has been the speed of the game from high school. For Formann, it’s the physicality – or lack thereof – as she’s learning what is and isn’t a foul.

“I think I’ve fouled out in every practice,” she said with a laugh, “so that’s been an adjustment.”

The offensive and defensive schemes are CU are more precise, though, she said. That’s been an adjustment, but she likes it, she said.

A 5-foot-11 guard, Formann played on the Danish national team and is expected to bring outside shooting and more to the table for the Buffs. Formann added that Blacksten, a 6-3 wing, is great at using her length to her advantage, and she’s been impressed with the physical strength of Lafontaine, a 6-foot guard.

“Everyone is bringing something different,” Formann said. “I’m just excited to see what everybody brings. I can really see a lot of potential in all the newcomers.”