CU Buffs women’s basketball runs away from New Mexico for season-opening win

Fast break Why the Buffs won CU dominated defensively holding New Mexico to a mark while forcing turnovers Three stars Anaelle Dutat The Rhode Island transfer enjoyed a memorable CU debut posting a double-double with points and rebounds Jade Crook The freshman from Australia recorded points and seven rebounds Desiree Wooten A transfer from North Texas Wooten filled up the stat sheet with points three assists three steals and a pair of rebounds Up next CU hits the road for a huge test at No Louisville on Wednesday The new-look rotation for the Colorado women s basketball crew possibly will be a work in progress on offense Defensively however the Buffaloes already are operating at a high level CU harassed New Mexico throughout the night and tightened the clamps to another level after halftime as the Buffs gradually pulled away for an - success Thursday at the CU Events Center It was the first challenge of the th season for CU under head coach JR Payne who improved to - at CU in season openers Really proud of our club and how we played and how we competed Payne reported You never really expect the beginning to be beautiful and it wasn t But we made specific really really great adjustments at halftime Defensively in particular This stat sheet is like a coach s dream to have so much balance and feel that so multiple different people on the association can contribute in lots of different avenues Which of curriculum they did Just really really proud of how we re starting the season off It was a meeting of runs early as CU answered a - burst by New Mexico with consecutive points The Buffs began the night -for- on -pointers and never truly warmed up from long range finishing just -for- from the arc CU though made up ground on defense While the Lobos outshot the Buffs in the first half to CU forced New Mexico turnovers in the first two quarters and turned the extra possessions into a - advantage in points off turnovers while building a - lead at halftime The Buffs took that defense to another level after the break CU outscored the Lobos - in the third quarter while holding New Mexico to a -for- mark in the frame The Buffs steadily pulled away from there holding the Lobos to a shooting percentage -for- after halftime I think we have a tremendous amount of balance Payne stated I think we re going to see lots of different people in the press conference at the end of the night because any given member can really impact the competition A total of nine players made their CU debuts with Rhode Island transfer Anaelle Dutat leading the way The senior forward posted a double-double in her first battle with the Buffs going -for- from the floor and -for- at the free-throw line before finishing with points rebounds and a team-high four steals Desiree Wooten a transfer from North Texas recorded points three assists and three steals while Jade Crook a freshman center from Australia came off the bench to post points and seven rebounds CU finished with assists steals and only turnovers The Buffs dominated all facets recording lopsided advantages in points off turnovers - points in the paint - and fast-break points - Really happy to be here Really happy that this was my last first meeting I guess I m really happy to play here commented Dutat who grabbed five offensive rebounds I was just trying to be aggressive and obviously offensive rebounding gets me really aggressive I m just trying to keep building on it CU Buffs women s basketball New Mexico New Mexico Colorado NEW MEXICO - Hooks - - Magalhaes - - Hargrove - - Padilla - - Craig - - Abdurraqib - - Foster - - Peixinho - - Jones - - Jordon - - Najjuma - - Joaquim - - Totals - - COLORADO - Sanders - - Wooten - - Greer - - Masogayo - - Dutat - - Gooden - - O Connor - - - Crook - - Zadel - - McErlane - - Walker - - Totals - -point field goals New Mexico - Hooks - Magalhaes - Hargrove - Padilla - Craig - Abdurraqib - Foster - Jones - Joaquim - Colorado - Sanders - Wooten - Greer - Dutat - Gooden - O Connor - Crook - McErlane - Rebounds New Mexico Hooks Colorado Dutat Assists New Mexico Hargrove Colorado Gooden O Connor Wooten Turnovers New Mexico Magalhaes Colorado Sanders A