BOULDER, Colo. (Interstat) — The Colorado women’s basketball team closed on a 22-9 run to defeat Texas Tech 75-68 in a Big 12 Conference game Saturday at Coors Events Center. The Buffaloes, led by Zyanna Walker’s 18 points and Desiree Wooten’s 16 points and six assists, erased a 59-53 deficit entering the fourth quarter. Colorado shot 50% in the final period to seal the win before a crowd of 4,852. Jalynn Bristow scored 18 points for the Lady Raiders, who led by as many as 11 in the first half. Snudda Collins added 13 points. The win improved Colorado to 20-8 overall. Texas Tech fell to 24-5.

BOULDER, Colo. (Interstat) — In a critical late-season Big 12 Conference clash defined by defensive pressure and a decisive final-quarter surge, the Colorado Buffaloes outlasted the Texas Tech Lady Raiders 75-68 in women’s basketball action Saturday at a raucous Coors Events Center. The game, played before 4,852 fans, saw the Buffaloes erase a third-quarter deficit by dominating the final period, outscoring the Lady Raiders 22-9 over the last 10 minutes to secure their 20th win of the season. Colorado improved to 20-8 overall, while Texas Tech, which entered the contest riding a five-game winning streak, fell to 24-5. The contest was a tale of contrasting strengths and a pivotal shift in momentum after halftime. Texas Tech, operating with remarkable offensive efficiency for three quarters, built its lead on the back of sharp shooting and a formidable interior defense. The Lady Raiders connected on 57.8% of their field goals and 7 of 13 from three-point range through the first three periods. Defensively, they swatted away 10 Colorado shot attempts, with junior forward Jalynn Bristow of Holliday, Texas, recording five of those blocks to go with her team-high 18 points. Colorado, however, weathered that early storm by leveraging relentless defensive activity and controlling the glass. The Buffaloes forced 16 Texas Tech turnovers, converting them into 19 points, and grabbed a staggering 12 offensive rebounds that led to 19 second-chance points. That persistent effort kept them within striking distance even as the Lady Raiders seemed to be in rhythm. The most important part of the game arrived in the fourth quarter, as Colorado’s defensive intensity reached a new level and Texas Tech’s offense went cold. After entering the final period tied at 53, the Buffaloes unleashed a 14-4 run over the first six minutes. The sequence was fueled by their defensive identity: steals by Desiree Wooten and Zyanna Walker, offensive rebounds leading to put-backs, and a general disruption of Texas Tech’s offensive sets. The Lady Raiders, who scored 23 points in the first quarter, managed only nine in the fourth, missing critical shots and committing untimely turnovers against Colorado’s heightened pressure. Wooten, a guard from Dallas, was instrumental in the closing stretch, scoring six of her 16 points in the fourth quarter while also tallying six assists and three steals. Her backcourt partner, Zyanna Walker of Wichita, Kansas, led all scorers with 18 points and added three steals. Their combined backcourt pressure was a defining factor. Inside, French forward Anaëlle Dutat played a game-high 38 minutes, contributing 11 points and a game-high five offensive rebounds, embodying Colorado’s workmanlike effort. For Texas Tech, Bristow’s all-around performance of 18 points, three assists and five blocks in 34 minutes was a highlight, supported by 13 points from Snudda Collins of Brookhaven, Mississippi, and 12 from Bailey Maupin of Gruver, Texas. The Lady Raiders’ typically efficient offense, which had posted an offensive rating of 106.7, finally succumbed to Colorado’s sustained defensive aggression and their own inability to secure defensive boards in key moments. Statistically, the game was closer than the final score indicated. Both teams finished with 26 made field goals and nearly identical offensive ratings. The decisive disparities came at the free-throw line, where Colorado made 17 of 21 attempts compared to Texas Tech’s 9 of 10, and in the turnover battle, where the Buffaloes’ 13 steals offset their own 17 giveaways. The victory solidifies Colorado’s position in the upper tier of the Big 12 as the regular season winds down, providing a significant resume boost. For Texas Tech, the loss snaps a promising streak but underscores the challenges of winning on the road against a tenacious defensive opponent. Both teams continue conference play next week, with Colorado hosting Utah and Texas Tech traveling to face Kansas.

BOULDER, Colo. (Interstat) — A surging Texas Tech women’s basketball team looks to continue its push for a Big 12 regular-season title when it visits the Colorado Buffaloes on Saturday. The Lady Raiders (24-4, 13-2 Big 12) enter Coors Events Center riding a wave of momentum after a dominant 87-56 victory over Baylor on Wednesday. That win, their fourth in five games, kept them near the top of the conference standings. Guard Bailey Maupin, the team’s engine, is averaging 21.3 points over her last four contests, including a 22-point performance against Baylor. Colorado (19-8, 10-5), receiving votes in the latest AP Top 25, aims to bolster its NCAA Tournament resume with a signature home win. The Buffaloes have won five of their last six, most recently a 78-70 road victory at Arizona on Tuesday. Forward Anaëlle Dutat has been pivotal, scoring 20 points against Arizona and posting a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double in a win over BYU last Saturday. This matchup pits Texas Tech’s high-octane offense, which scored 85 points or more in two of its last four games, against a Colorado defense that has held three of its last five opponents under 66 points. The Lady Raiders won the season’s first meeting 77-49 in Salt Lake City on Jan. 24, though that game was part of a conference scheduling agreement and did not feature Colorado. A key battle will be on the glass. Texas Tech’s Gemma Nunez, who had 10 points and three assists against Baylor, will be tasked with helping contain Dutat and Colorado’s physical frontcourt. The Buffaloes’ Tabitha Betson, coming off a 15-point, four-assist game at Arizona, provides additional scoring punch. For Texas Tech, a win maintains pressure at the top of the league. For Colorado, a victory would secure a crucial Quad 1 win and solidify its postseason positioning. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. MST Saturday. Colorado hosts Utah on Tuesday, while Texas Tech visits Kansas next Wednesday.