Colorado advances to Pac-12 quarterfinals with 64-52 win over Washington

BOULDER — History didn’t repeat itself.

Fifth-seeded Colorado knocked off 12th-seeded Washington in the first round of the Pac-12 tournament 64-52, just one year after being upset in the first round by the Huskies. The win is Colorado’s seventh in its last eight games. Colorado will now face fourth-seeded Arizona, the No. 14 team in the country, in the second round of the tournament at 1 p.m. MST on Thursday.

Wednesday’s game was contested down to the final minute, when Jaylyn Sherrod gave Colorado an eight-point lead by bursting past her defender near the basket and making a quick layup. She scored six points on 2-for-4 shooting with three rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block.

Peanut Tuitele led the way with 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting. She also added eight rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal. She knocked in her only 3-point attempt.

The 3-point shooting was the story of the game for Colorado. In the first half, the Buffs couldn’t get anything in the paint, thanks in part to Washington center Nancy Mulkey. Mulkey, who at 6-foot-9 is six inches taller than anybody on CU’s roster, roamed the paint and didn’t let the Buffs get anything easy. She blocked four shots and stole two passes.

But, with the paint clogged up, Colorado was gift-wrapped a handful of wide open 3-point attempts. In the first half, the Buffs made one of their 12 attempts and most of them were very good looks. Washington transfer Quay Miller was responsible for the one make. Despite the poor shooting, which came as no surprise given CU is the worst 3-point shooting team in the Pac-12 by percentage, the Buffs led 21-17 at halftime.

In the second half, though, the Buffs got hot. They made eight of their 12 3-point attempts, including a stretch late in the third quarter when senior forward Mya Hollingshed made 3-pointers on three consecutive CU possessions. But, in that same stretch, Washington hit three 3s in four possessions and the Buffs carried a one-point lead into the fourth quarter. Hollingshed scored 15 points and also grabbed 12 rebounds, leading the way in Colorado’s 47-30 domination on the glass.

Tameiya Sadler, the other Husky who transferred to Colorado over the offseason, collided with Tuitele in the final five minutes of the game and had to be loaded onto a stretcher and wheeled off the court. She was moving her arms and talking. No update on her status has been given as of this time.

For more on CU’s path through the Pac-12 Tournament and its game against Arizona, head over here.