The University of Arizona women’s basketball team (19-13, 10-8 in Big 12) lost to the University of Colorado, Boulder (20-11, 9-9 in Big 12), 61-58 in the second round of the Phillips 66 Big 12 women’s basketball championship on Thursday, March 6, at 12:30 p.m. in the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

The loss ends the Wildcats’ season after a disappointing early exit in the Big 12 tournament. Arizona now waits for Selection Sunday on March 16 to see if the team receives a bid into the NCAA Tournament.

Sophomore Skylar Jones led the way with 17 points and three rebounds, going 70% from the field. Jada Williams followed close with 13 points and five assists, shooting 5-for-11 for the game. Colorado freshman Tabitha Betson led the Buffaloes with 16 points on 7-for-11 shooting and grabbing seven boards. Betson’s freshman counterpart, Kennedy Sanders, came off the bench and dropped 14 points on 5-for-9 shooting.

Arizona jumped out to a hot start, going on a 6-0 scoring run to go 8-1 after Williams drilled a three-pointer, leading to a media timeout. After the timeout, the Wildcats kept their foot on the gas, extending their lead to 14-3 after Jones converted a layup before forcing Colorado to call a timeout.

The Wildcats closed the quarter up 14-7 and shot 42.9% from the field to Colorado’s 25%. The Wildcats also forced the Buffaloes to turn the ball over six times in the period.

The game would turn upside down for Arizona as the Wildcats allowed Colorado to tie the game halfway into the quarter. Johanna Teder buried a triple from deep, with Colorado leading by 1 point and capping a 7-1 run.

Jones scored 7 points in the second period, totaling 11 at the half. Despite this, Arizona would get outscored in the quarter 19-12 after going into halftime tied at 26.

The Wildcats found their footing opening the second half on a 6-0 run after Mailien Rolf got the putback attempt to go before the media timeout and pushed the lead to 32-26. Colorado would respond by going on a 5-0 run, thanks to Betson hitting another triple, cutting the deficit to one.

Arizona would answer right back and extended their lead to 40-33 after freshman Lauryn Swann drilled back-to-back threes. The Wildcats ended the third period up 48-40 after shooting an efficient 62.5% from the floor.

Starting the final period, the Buffaloes would go on a 9-2 run, cutting the Arizona lead to just three after senior Lior Garzon made a three-pointer. Colorado would continue the hot shooting, making six of their next seven shots after Sanders drilled a 3-pointer from beyond the arc, taking a 54-53 lead midway through the quarter.

Out of the timeout, the Wildcats struggled from the floor, going into a three-minute scoring drought and only making one of their last nine field goal attempts. Jones had an open look to tie the game with seven seconds left but failed to convert the three-pointer as Arizona fell to Colorado once again.

The Wildcats outrebounded the Buffaloes 37-33, generated more points off turnovers 25-19 and dominated points in the paint 34-28. Yet, Colorado would outlast Arizona in bench points 24-13 and go 6-for-17 from beyond the arc. This was crucial in helping them outscore the Wildcats 21-10 in the fourth and fulfilling the comeback win.