NO. 8 CU BUFFS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VS. UT ARLINGTON MAVERICKS

AM

Tuesday, 11a.m., CU Events Center in Boulder Online — Live stream at Cubuffs.com/630

Colorado 8-1; UT Arlington 1-7

Colorado — JR Payne, 8th season (127-94; 228-207 career).ut Arlington — Shereka Wright, 4th season (48-39)

Colorado — G Frida Formann, 5-11, Sr. (15.1 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 2.7 apg, 2.1 spg, .473 FG%, .452 3PT%, 1.000FT%); C Quay Miller, 6-3, Sr. (9.2ppg, 6.6rpg); G Tameiya Sadler, 5-8, Sr. (5.2 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 2.7 apg, 2.1 spg); G Jaylyn Sherrod, 5-7, Sr. (12.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 5.4 apg, 2.1spg, .487FG%); C Aaronette Vonleh, 6-3, Jr. (15.4ppg, 5.4rpg, 2.2apg, .678FG%); G Kindyll Wetta, 5-9, Jr. (7.2ppg, 3.3rpg, 3.1apg, .545FG%).UT Arlington — G Gia Adams, 5-7, Jr. (12.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.5spg); F Avery Brittingham, 6-1, Sr. (12.5ppg, 8.9rpg, 2.8 apg, 1.8 spg, .451 FG%, .385 3PT%); G Taliyah Clark, 5-11, Jr. (11.1 ppg, 2.9 rpg); G Hannah Humphrey, 5-8, Jr. (8.1ppg, .3643PT%); G Nya Threatt, 5-6, So. (7.3ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.5 apg); F Adela Valkova, 6-2, Sr. (6.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg, .513 FG%)

CU returns home after a 74-58 win at Air Force on Saturday. … This game has an early tip because it’s Field Trip Day for local schools. … In the latest Associated Press Top 25poll released Monday, CU slipped a bit to No. 8. The Buffs were tied at No. 7with LSU last week, but actually picked up 14 more points in the voting this week (639points vs. 625last week). … CU is 3-0at home this season. … In regular season non-conference home games under Payne, the Buffs are 45-2and have won 34in a row. … This will be CU’S first-ever meeting with UT Arlington. … Formann is the only player in the Pac-12with a perfect free throw percentage. She is also tied for second in the Pac-12 with 3.1 made 3-pointers per game. … CU is shooting 49.1% on the season and the Buffs have been at 44.9% or better in all eight wins. The Buffs have also had at least 20assists in seven of their eight wins. … Colorado will be UTA’S second Power 5opponent. The Mavericks lost to Texas 110-64on Nov. 14. … UTA’S lone win came on Nov. 25against North Carolina A&T, 87-76. … As a player, Wright was a star at Purdue and played for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA. … Wright was Sun Belt coach of the year in 2021-22 after leading the Mavericks to the conference tournament title and spot in the NCAA Tournament.

the Buffs haven’t had a lot of practice time to fix some issues.

The season began four weeks ago, and the Buffs have already played nine games. They had five days off between the third and four games, but it’s been a whirlwind ever since.

Shortly after returning from a trip to Dallas to play SMU on Nov. 18, the Buffs were home for a couple of days before traveling to the U.S. Virgin Islands for three games over three days during the Thanksgiving break. They then had a 12-hour travel day, followed by one day to prepare for a home game against Boston last Tuesday.

The Buffs had three days to prepare for Air Force last week and had one of their better defensive games, limiting the Falcons to 33.8% from the floor and 13.6% from 3-point range in a 74-58 win on Saturday.

It’s a fairly quick turnaround from Saturday to Tuesday’s matchup with UT Arlington, but after Tuesday, the Buffs play just once more (Dec. 21 vs. Northern Colorado) before the Pac-12 Conference opener against Utah on Dec. 30.

Payne is looking forward to some muchneeded practice time as the Buffs aim to shore up their defense.

“We want to make everything better in the next two weeks, but obviously defensively we have a lot of work to do,” Payne said. “We’re getting ready to play the No. 1 offense in the country (Utah) opening night of conference play, so that’ll be a huge priority.”