Jones aims for memorable senior day with CU
In the early moments of Thursday’s game against Stanford, Colorado’s Tayanna Jones couldn’t believe when she saw her mom and brother in the stands.
“She definitely surprised me,” Jones said. “I knew she was coming for my senior night. I didn’t know she was coming for the Stanford game.”
A native of North Carolina who has spent the past three years with the CU women’s basketball team, Jones hasn’t had many opportunities to play in front of family. But, this is a special weekend.
On Saturday at the CU Events Center, Jones will be honored during the senior day celebration as the Buffs take on California (noon, Pac-12 Network).
She is one of three seniors on the roster, but the only one who will go through the ceremony. Quay Miller and Jaylyn Sherrod could both return for a fifth season, but haven’t made their final decision.
For Jones, it will be a celebration of a five-year journey that began with two seasons at Georgetown before transferring to CU.
“I still haven’t processed it,” she said of nearing the end of her career. “It feels surreal. It’s my last home game here at CU. I think it’s going to be memorable for sure.”
This season, Jones took advantage of the extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA for all players from the 2020-21 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. For the first time, Jones has been a fulltime starter. The 6-foot-1 wing is averaging career highs in minutes (19.4 per game), points (5.2) and rebounds (4.5) and has a career-high — and team-best — 19 blocks.
“It’s just been another opportunity for me to showcase and just keep playing the game I love, just keep playing with my teammates, who are really incredible to play with; and the coaching staff,” she said. “And just being able to be around an atmosphere where we all want to win, we’re competitive and we love to play basketball.”
Jones knew she could get a prestigious degree from Georgetown, but wanted to challenge herself on the court in the Pac-12, arguably the best conference in the country. She hasn’t regretted the decision.
“I’m grateful because it just seemed like it was a better fit for me overall,” she said. “Everything just fell into place, like I’m sup
posed to be here, like this is part of my purpose. … Colorado, they have balance. They have the degree and they have the basketball, as well, so it’s been good for me.”
A long, athletic wing, Jones often gives the Buffs
great energy, solid defense, and a rebounding presence. She’s had some ups and downs, but her mom and brother saw Jones play one of her best games of the year Thursday. She had nine points, seven rebounds and a career-high three blocks, all while playing solid defense in the 21st-ranked Buffs’ heartbreaking 73- 62 overtime loss to third-ranked Stanford.
“I thought Tay was phenomenal tonight,” head coach JR Payne said after the game. “She did everything that she needed to do. She defended, she played really long, she rebounded, she looked to be aggressive off the bounce, she hit a three.
“If we can bottle that and have that Tay Jones for the next three, four weeks of basketball, we are going to continue to be better and better and better. I thought she was awesome.”
Jones is hoping for another awesome game on Saturday, but while she’ll enjoy celebrating her career, she wants one thing more anything else
“I just want to win, honestly,” she said. “That’s my first priority. We want to make sure we get that W tomorrow, handle our business and see what comes after that.
“Definitely walking with my mom and brother (during the ceremony) will be really, really good for me. It’s something I won’t forget. I think it’ll be really fun. I’m just looking forward to it — and trying not to cry.”