Another game, another struggle with foul trouble for Breya Cunningham.
Arizona had to play through Cunningham assessed two fouls in the first three minutes of the game, and much to the Wildcats’ credit, that effort was almost enough.
The Wildcats remained competitive throughout, despite shooting 32.7 percent from the field and getting outrebounded 43-27.
Colorado prevailed 56-47, giving Arizona (14-10, 5-6 Big 12) consecutive losses on the road against former Pac-12 Rocky Mountain foes Utah and Colorado.
Arizona returns to McKale Center on Saturday to face rival Arizona State at 2 p.m.
“We had a tough time reversing the ball, not getting able to get open, held the ball, jacked up shots … It’s really tough,” Arizona coach Adia Barnes said about the Wildcats’ struggle on offense while being interviewed on 1400-AM during the postgame interview.
Cunningham fouled out for the sixth time this season after playing only 13 minutes. She has been whistled for at least four fouls in 12 of Arizona’s games this season.
“Breya playing (13) minutes, you’re not gonna win the game,” Barnes said. “People have to be able to step up in games that matter. It’s one thing if you play against the bottom teams, but when you play against teams where we need to win, people have to be able to step up and perform.
“We’re not getting that right now.”
The difference in the game was Colorado scoring the last seven points of the second quarter and outscoring Arizona 12-5 to start the third quarter to take a 41-26 lead.
“I just don’t think we didn’t have a sense of toughness (on defense),” Barnes said. “We didn’t have a sense of urgency, just disappointed in that.”
At that point, Jada Williams was 0 of 9 from the field and 0 of 5 from 3-point range.
Williams then made three consecutive 3-pointers from the third quarter to the fourth quarter to lead Arizona back into the game.
Her third 3-pointer ignited a 7-0 run to cut the lead to 45-41 with 6:57 remaining.
Colorado responded with five unanswered points, three on free throws by Jade Masogayo, who controlled the interior against Arizona. She finished with 19 points and 14 rebounds.
Arizona did not get closer than five points in the last 6:39 of the game.
“Breya had two fouls in the first two minutes of the game, so then having to sit is really tough, and then having no one to match her (Masogayo’s) athleticism … we did not box out and she just sort of had rebounds at will,” Barnes said. “I mean, she controlled the game … She had like two-thirds of their points. It’s just not okay.”
a DIME from Isis to Jada to mark her th#MadeForIt x #LeaveALegacy pic.twitter.com/baeg6vhTQP
— Arizona Basketball (@ArizonaWBB) February 6, 2025
The Buffaloes’ wide rebounding margin helped them score 10 second-chance points while Arizona had none. Colorado also outscored Arizona 34-24 in the paint.
Arizona tallied 15 steals, led by freshman Mailien Rolf’s five, but the Wildcats mustered only 12 points in transition because of their cold shooting and turnover issues.
They had only eight assists with 16 turnovers.
“We have to be tougher,” Barnes said. “We have to be tougher and have some pride. When someone continues to get offensive rebounds, you need to box them out. We can’t give their post player 19 (points) and 14 (rebounds) and win a game. We can’t have no production from our starters and win a game.
“We can’t have Breya, who’s our main post player, that we rely on, playing only 12 minutes. Those are things that can’t happen. So people have to be able to be disciplined and be able to stay on the floor. That’s a team thing, and they have to be able to do that. People have to come in and perform when someone isn’t performing well, which can happen. Other people have to step up. And we’re not getting that right now.”
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