Colorado Buffs Women's Basketball Faces No. 14 TCU Challenge

Buffs look to bounce back from recent close losses against the Big 12-leading Horned Frogs

Feb. 7, 2026 at 5:15pm

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The Colorado Buffs women's basketball team is set to host the No. 14-ranked TCU Horned Frogs on Sunday in a key Big 12 matchup. The Buffs are coming off a tough 61-55 loss to No. 20 West Virginia, their sixth defeat by seven points or less this season. Despite the close losses, the Buffs have shown the ability to make quick corrections and bounce back, having rebounded from previous defeats against top opponents. The Horned Frogs, led by national player of the year candidate Olivia Miles, present a formidable challenge as they lead the Big 12 in scoring defense and are second in the conference in rebounding margin.

Why it matters

This game represents a major test for the Buffs as they look to establish themselves as a contender in the highly competitive Big 12 conference. A win over the league-leading Horned Frogs would be a significant boost to Colorado's postseason aspirations. The Buffs have shown they can compete with the best teams in the conference, and this matchup provides an opportunity to prove it on their home court.

The details

The Buffs will need to have better organization and execution than they did in the loss to West Virginia in order to have a chance against the stifling TCU defense. Colorado head coach JR Payne has praised her team's coachability, noting that they are quick to identify and correct their mistakes. The Buffs will need that mentality against a talented TCU squad led by Miles, who is the only player in the country averaging at least 14.0 points, 6.0 assists and 6.0 rebounds per game.

  • The Buffs had a three-game win streak snapped with a 61-55 loss to No. 20 West Virginia on Wednesday.

The players

Zyanna Walker

A junior guard for the Colorado Buffs who is averaging 11.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.

Olivia Miles

A senior guard for the TCU Horned Frogs who is a national player of the year candidate, averaging 19.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game.

JR Payne

The 10th-year head coach of the Colorado Buffs women's basketball team.

Mark Campbell

The 3rd-year head coach of the TCU Horned Frogs women's basketball team.

Tabitha Betson

A sophomore forward for the Colorado Buffs who is averaging 4.5 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.

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What they’re saying

“I like how competitive it is. You've got to show up every night, no matter who you're playing. Top or bottom of the conference, you've got to be up, ready to play, especially on the road.”

— Zyanna Walker, Colorado guard (dailycamera.com)

“When you're a competitor, you like to play with the best of the best. They're on top of the conference, so we know that we have an opportunity to play with them on our home floor, so we're going to take that.”

— Zyanna Walker, Colorado guard (dailycamera.com)

“I think when we turn on the film, we're going to see that there was a lot of really missed opportunities that were (on) us.”

— JR Payne, Colorado head coach (dailycamera.com)

“I think it's amazing. Honestly, being a part of a group that is willing to learn and willing to listen to each other and the coaches and willing to grow is really special. It's not super common.”

— Tabitha Betson, Colorado sophomore forward (dailycamera.com)

“It's just important that you lock in for every game because you'll see somebody get upset every other night, every week (in the Big 12). It's just important that you lock in and focus on the game that's ahead.”

— Zyanna Walker, Colorado guard (dailycamera.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This game highlights the competitive nature of the Big 12 conference, where any team can pull off an upset on a given night. The Buffs have shown the ability to bounce back from close losses, and a win over the league-leading Horned Frogs would be a significant boost to their postseason aspirations.