The Arizona women\u2019s basketball team couldn\u2019t overcome a slow start at Colorado on Wednesday night, falling 75-56 to the Buffaloes at CU Events Center in Boulder.<\/p>\n
The Wildcats trailed 17-5 after the first quarter and were down by as many as 19 points in the second.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur start really, really hurt us,\u201d UA coach Becky Burke said afterward. \u201cIt’s been an Achilles\u2019 heel for us, whether it’s been a quarter that we’ve had a lull, or a start to a game, or our ability to finish it, to put together a full 40 minutes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe lose the last three quarters by seven (points). So I think it was fairly even through those last three quarters. But that first quarter, coming out, not being prepared to compete at the highest level that we needed to.<\/p>\n
\u201cCredit to them. They had a great game plan. They executed well. Ultimately, we weren’t ready to play from the beginning. This is not a team that has the luxury of doing that.<\/p>\n
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\u201cFrustrated with the outcome. Proud of our fight, as I have been, through certain areas and certain portions of the game. But ultimately it’s a loss, and that’s not what we’re here for.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Arizona guard Mickayla Perdue dribbles the ball against Colorado on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in Boulder, Colo. Perdue had a game-high 22 points in the Wildcats’ 75-56 defeat.<\/p>\n
Arizona Women’s Basketball on X (Twitter)<\/p>\n
It was the second game in a row in which one poor quarter essentially doomed Arizona, which fell to 9-4, 0-2 in the Big 12. The Wildcats were outscored 24-4 in the second period against Utah on Dec. 22, a game they ended up losing 63-62.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, the closest Arizona got was 39-31 with 5:26 left in the third quarter on a layup by Tanyuel Welch. The Buffs (10-4, 1-1) outscored the Wildcats 12-5 the rest of the period and were never seriously threatened the rest of the way.<\/p>\n
UA guard Mickayla Perdue led all scores with 22 points on 7-of-15 shooting, including 5 of 11 from 3-point range. Guard Noelani Cornfield had 13 points and three assists. Welch had 12 points and a team-high eight rebounds.<\/p>\n
Burke was concerned about Colorado\u2019s length and athleticism entering the game. The Buffs outrebounded the Wildcats 41-30 and outscored them in the paint 34-22. Two of Arizona\u2019s bigs, Daniah Trammell and Blessing Adebanjo, fouled out.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are very small,\u201d Burke said. \u201cWe’re not very athletic. We don’t have length, and when we see that, it bothers us.<\/p>\n
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Arizona forward Blessing Adebanjo dribbles the ball against Colorado on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in Boulder, Colo.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Arizona Women’s Basketball on X (Twitter)<\/p>\n
\u201cI just told them in the locker room, \u2018Suck it up, because you’re going to see it the rest of the way.\u2019 We are never going to be the biggest team, the most athletic, the longest.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow are you going to handle pressure? Are you going to be poised? Are you going to do the extra stuff that’s going to allow you to handle length and athleticism? Because we’re not getting bigger overnight.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wednesday was Arizona\u2019s first road game of the season\u00a0\u2014 and the first college road game ever for several Wildcats, including Trammell and Adebanjo. Trammell, a true freshman, had her least productive game of the season (zero points, three rebounds).<\/p>\n
\u201cEverybody wants to give us these copouts and these excuses, and I’m just not doing it,\u201d Burke said. \u201cI don’t care if it’s a road game, a home game, we gotta be prepared and ready to play from the beginning.\u201d<\/p>\n
Arizona is back on the road Saturday against No. 21 Texas Tech (15-0, 2-0).<\/p>\n
Up next<\/p>\n
What: Arizona (9-4, 0-2) at No. 21 Texas Tech (15-0, 2-0)<\/p>\n
When: 5 p.m. Saturday<\/p>\n
Where: United Supermarkets Arena; Lubbock, Texas<\/p>\n
Watch: ESPN+<\/p>\n
Listen: 1400-AM<\/p>\n