SHARED JOY
Fourth-ranked Buffs rack up assists, dominate Oregon to reach 20-win mark
Maddie Nolan yelled and pumped her fist after another bucket by the Colorado Buffaloes, but while she was the leading scorer on Friday night, this celebration came after one of her passes resulted in points for someone else.
The unselfish nature of the No. 4-ranked CU women’s basketball team was on full display Friday as it raced past Oregon, 90-57, at the CU Events Center.
“I think everyone is buying into that idea of sharing the ball until we find the best team shot,” CU head coach JR Payne said.
It happened a lot on Friday. Nolan had a season-high 19 points but also a season-high six assists. That was part of an eye-popping 32 assists on 36 baskets for the Buffs (20-3, 10-2 Pac-12), who continue to sit atop the conference standings after sweeping the regular season set from the Ducks (11-13, 2-9) for the first time in 11 years.
“Really proud of our preparation all week long,” Payne said. “I thought our team, we’re striking a great balance of focus, keeping things light, making sure we’re prepared. We were in a really good place tonight.
“It thought we played like we’re feeling really good.”
The Buffs posted just the 15th 30-assist game in program history, but only the second since and adding four rebounds.
2. Quay Miller: Posted yet another double-double, with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
3. Jaylyn Sherrod: Finished with six points, six assists, three rebounds and two steals.
Up next: Colorado will host No. 17 Oregon State on Sunday at noon at the CU Events Center. the mid-1990s. Their 32 assists were the most in a game since recording 35 against St. Francis (Pa.) on Nov. 28, 1994.
CU had 19 of those in the first half, setting a school record for assists in a half. By the time the final buzzer sounded,
eight different Buffs had assists, led by Kindyll Wetta’s seven. Jaylyn Sherrod matched Nolan’s six, while Frida Formann had five.
True to the Buffs’ nature, they genuinely seemed to enjoy each of those 32 dimes.
“Because we know we’re going to make the shots,” forward Quay Miller said when asked why the Buffs get so much joy out of assists.
“And if we’re not going to make it, we know we’re going to get the rebound.”
That was certainly the case on Friday. Miller, who had three assists, posted yet another double-double, with 12 points and 11 rebounds. The Buffs outrebounded the Ducks 4631 and outscored them in the paint 40-14.
Formann and Vonleh also had 12 points, while Tameiya Sadler had 11.
Among all of the stellar numbers, Nolan’s might have been the most impressive. The Michigan transfer began to cook midway through the second quarter.
CU led just 31-24 and Nolan had yet to hit a field goal before she drained her first of five 3-pointers with 5:25 to play in the first half.
In the last 65 seconds of the half, she hit three 3s in a row, turning a nine-point lead into an 18-point advantage, 49-31, at intermission.
The Buffs never looked back from there.
“I was just joking with JR, her son comes out and contests me during warmups. He needs to do that every game,” Nolan said.
“I thought my teammates did a really good job of finding me.”
Of course they did. It’s because the Buffs are at their best — and have their most fun — when they’re sharing the ball.
And Friday was a fun game for the Buffs, who have their best 23-game start to a season since the 1994-95 team was 21-2 at this stage.
“I know what this team is capable of, so I expect this of us,” Miller said. “We’re having a lot of fun. Obviously winning is fun always. Because we’re playing such good basketball, everyone is good.”