Having Anaelle Dutat pick up her pace in rebounding was to be expected.
After all, the senior has been the top rebounder for the Colorado women’s basketball team all season, even with a mid-season lull.
Lately, however, it’s been a collective effort that has helped the Buffaloes dominate on the glass. CU is plus-68 on the boards in the last four games and has the best average rebounding margin in the Big 12 in conference play, at plus-6.2, as it goes into a Tuesday night home matchup with Utah.
“I don’t think we changed anything,” said Dutat, who is third in the Big 12 with 8.2 rebounds per game, including 9.3 in her last four games. “We’ve always been good (at rebounding). … I think our effort has just been maybe better the last few games because we have a better sense of urgency and, like, it really matters and that’s how we win games.”
Rebounding has been a strength all season for the Buffs, who have outrebounded 21 of their 28 opponents (12 times by double digits). In one game the rebounds were even, and three times the Buffs were out-boarded by just one or two.
Since getting out-rebounded, 31-27, in an 80-79 win against then-No. 14 TCU, CU has been relentless. The Buffs had a 41-32 advantage at Houston on Feb. 11 and then crushed BYU on the boards, 50-26 on Feb. 14.
On Feb. 17, the Buffs out-rebounded Arizona, 37-17, with Arizona’s total being the lowest ever for a CU opponent. Then, on Saturday, No.20 Texas Tech matched the previous record low with only 18 boards, while CU had 33.
“We all know AD’s our best rebounder and one of the best rebounders in the country,” CU head coach JR Payne said. “But I think it’s been more that we’ve shown possessions where we’re like, ‘It can’t just be AD.’ … I think our team is really buying into, at least it seems like it, that we can all rebound. I just think it’s more people giving more effort on the glass.”
To help Dutat, Zyanna Walker had a season-high nine rebounds at Arizona; Erianna Gooden had six at Houston; and Jade Masogayo, Desiree Wooten and Logyn Greer combined for 20 against BYU.
The Buffs will look to keep it going against Utah, which is tied for second in Big 12 play with a plus-5.1 rebounding margin.
“Like AD said, we know that we need rebound to be successful and so we have that urgency,” Payne said.
Receiving votes
On Monday, for the first time this year, the Buffs received votes in the Associated Press Top 25 poll.
CU was just outside the Top 25, as the first team among “others receiving votes.” CU got 23 points, just seven behind No. 25 Princeton.
Quick turnaround
After beating Texas Tech on Saturday night, the Buffs didn’t have much time to prepare for Utah, but Payne is quite familiar with the Utes, who have been a conference rival for 15 years.
“Utah is Utah; that’s one of the great things about them and what I love about their program is they are the same every single day,” Payne said. “They just show up and they run their action and they’re very disciplined and they do their thing. … I have so much respect for their program and their coach and so I know they’ll be well-prepared.”
CU Buffs women’s basketball vs. Utah
TIPOFF: Tuesday, 7 p.m., CU Events Center in Boulder
TV/RADIO: ESPN+/KHOW 630 AM
RECORDS: Colorado 20-8, 11-5 Big 12; Utah 17-11, 8-8 Big 12
COACHES: Colorado — JR Payne, 10th season (184-124; 285-237 career). Utah — Gavin Petersen, 2nd season (36-19)
KEY PLAYERS: Colorado — F Tabitha Betson, 6-2, So. (5.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg, .362 3pt%); F Anaelle Dutat, 6-0, Sr. (9.2 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 1.9 spg, .529 fg%); F Logyn Greer, 6-4, Fr. (9.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg); F Jade Masogayo, 6-3, Sr. (12.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.0 apg, .506 fg%); G Zyanna Walker, 5-11, Jr. (11.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.5 apg, 2.3 spg); G Desiree Wooten, 5-8, Jr. (12.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.7 spg). Utah — F Chyra Evans, 6-3, Jr. (8.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.6 apg); F Reese Ross, 6-1, Jr. (9.4 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 2.0 apg); G LA Sneed, 5-6, Fr. (6.4 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 3.3 apg); G Brooke Walker, 5-9, So. (5.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg); G Lani White, 6-0, Sr. (15.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg, .401 3pt%); G Maty Wilke, 5-10, Sr. (10.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.8 spg, .947 ft%).
NOTES: CU comes in with a five-game win streak, tied with Maryland for the fourth-longest current win streak among Power Five conference teams. … Utah leads the all-time series 23-22, including a 77-60 win in Salt Lake City on Feb. 12, 2025, the only matchup last season. … CU is 12-8 against the Utes in Boulder and this will be Utah’s first trip to the Events Center since Dec. 30, 2023. … Wooten is averaging 14.5 points and 5.2 assists in her last six games. … Dutat is averaging 15.5 points and 9.3 rebounds in her last four games. … CU is 14-2 at home, while Utah is 8-3 on the road. … The Utes are 1-4 in their last five games, including two consecutive losses coming into Tuesday. The Utes lost at home to rival BYU on Saturday, 86-74. … White has scored in double figures in 14 of her last 16 games. She had 20 points vs. BYU, her eighth 20-point game of the season. … In the NET rankings, CU is at No. 43 and Utah at No. 57.