UA’s NCAA Tournament streak in doubt after 61-58 loss to the Buffaloes
KANSAS CITY (MO) — Tabitha Betson scored 16 points and the ninth-seeded Colorado Buffaloes used a strong fourth quarter to knock off the eighth-seeded Arizona Wildcats.
After trailing 50-40 early in the fourth, Colorado engineered a 14-3 run to take the lead with 5:24 left on a 3-pointer by Kennedy Sanders. The Buffs later moved ahead by four before Jada Williams cut it to 60-58 on a jumper in the lane with 17 seconds left. Betson sank a free throw to put Colorado up three, and Skylar Jones’ 3-point attempt in the final seconds missed.
Betson added a team-high seven rebounds, Sanders finished with 14 points and Lior Garzon scored all nine of her points in the fourth quarter. The Buffaloes (20-11) will take on top-seeded TCU in the second quarterfinal Friday.
The Wildcats (19-13) missed 17 of their last 21 shots down the stretch. Jones led UA with 17 points. Williams added 13 points and five assists.
UA will now await their NCAA fate. The Wildcats are squarely on the bubble with most bracketologist showing them among the 1st teams to be left out of the tournament.
Arizona has been to the Big Dance the last four seasons.
–Field Level Media
David Kelly contributed to this story
