Statistics might change from game to game for Grace Oliver, but the effort does not.
As the Colorado women’s basketball team makes a push for a fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament, the development of Oliver during her freshman season has been a boost.
“I think Grace is one of our most consistent players every single day,” CU head coach JR Payne said. “She’s the same Grace every day, as far as works hard 99.9% of the time; she knows where she’s supposed to be, what she’s supposed to do, what we’re looking for.
“She’s very skilled. She can pass, she can shoot, she can defend. She’s just very, very solid, which is such a huge asset to the team and especially as a freshman.”
Wednesday will provide Oliver with another opportunity to help the Buffs, as they take on Arizona at the CU Events Center.
A 6-foot-1 guard from Norwell, Mass., Oliver is averaging 3.1 points and 2.6 rebounds, but those modest numbers don’t reflect her development this season.
There are games where Oliver has been scoreless, but rebounded, played defense and helped in other ways. And, she’s flirted with a double-double three times, including Sunday’s 67-51 against Texas Tech (seven points, eight rebounds).
“I feel like for me, my role this year has been pretty consistent,” she said. “Every game, honestly, I know exactly what I’m going out on that court to do: shoot the three, make some good cuts, obviously help my teammates get open; also offensively and defensively rebounding. … I just have those little goals in mind, and I don’t have to do a ton of each, but if I can contribute a little bit more in every single one of those aspects, it can help me help my team win.”
Oliver has proven capable of doing a lot of things for the Buffs, and her even-keeled nature is a big part of her success. She’s hitting shots at a 55.8% clip, including .381 (8-of-21) from 3-point range, but isn’t fazed when her shot isn’t falling.
“Honestly, I’ve been like that my whole life,” she said of staying calm on the court. “On the games where you’re not scoring that much, you can always play defense really well in order to help your team in just any type of way.
“I think just having that mindset of not doing too much, but keeping it simple and do what you do at practice, that’s really helped me and kind of just like the baseline for everything I do.”
CU will continue to lean on Oliver as a key part of the rotation as it heads into the stretch run of the season.
Wednesday’s game is a big one, as CU and Arizona – longtime Pac-12 rivals now in the Big 12 – are both on the NCAA Tournament bubble and separated by just one game in the standings.
“I really just don’t look at it that way,” Payne said of the game’s impact on the standings and postseason. “We’re just trying to play well and win games. … We don’t necessarily talk about winning and losing, but we want to play well, and we feel like if we do what we’re supposed to do, we give ourselves a chance to be successful.”
After 13 years in the Pac-12, CU joined the Big 12 this year along with Arizona, Arizona State and Utah. This is the Buffs’ first game against one of the other three (they’ll visit Utah on Feb. 12 and host Arizona on Feb. 26).
“I’m actually looking forward to seeing them, just some familiar faces on the sidelines,” Payne said. “I think it’s exciting to especially have an old Pac-12 team here. I think it’s a great opportunity for fans to come out and enjoy that.”
CU Buffs women’s basketball vs. Arizona
TIPOFF: Wednesday, 7 p.m., at CU Events Center
TV/RADIO: ESPNU/KHOW 630 AM
RECORDS: Colorado 15-6, 6-4 Big 12; Arizona 14-9, 5-5 Big 12
COACHES: Colorado — JR Payne, 9th season (158-108; 259-221 career). Arizona — Adia Barnes, 9th season (164-109).
KEY PLAYERS: Colorado — F Nyamer Diew, 6-2, Sr. (7.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg); G Frida Formann, 5-10, Sr. (13.3 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.1 apg, .444 3pt%); F Lior Garzon, 6-1, Sr. (10.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg); F Jade Masogayo, 6-3, Jr. (12.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg, .606 FG%); G Sara-Rose Smith, 6-1, Sr. (4.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg); G Kindyll Wetta, 5-9, Sr. (5.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 5.6 apg, 1.8 spg). Arizona — F Isis Beh, 6-3, Sr. (6.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg); F Breya Cunningham, 6-4, So. (11.7 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 1.8 bpg, .598 FG%); G Skylar Jones, 6-0, So. (9.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg, .412 3pt%); G Paulina Paris, 5-9, Jr. (9.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg); G Lauryn Swann, 5-7, Fr. (8.3 ppg, 2.1 rpg, .397 3pt%); G Jada Williams, 5-8, So. (13.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.8 spg),
NOTES: The Buffs bring a three-game winning streak into the game and they have won eight consecutive games at home. … This season, the Buffs are 11-1 at home, losing only to then-No. 24 Louisville on Nov. 30. … CU leads the all-time series with the Wildcats, 20-10, including 12-3 in Boulder. … Although they’ve been conference foes for 14 years, this will be just the second trip to Boulder for the Wildcats in the last five years. CU won the last game in Boulder, 72-65, on Jan. 13, 2023. … Garzon is 17 points away from reaching 1,500 for her career. … Masogayo is fourth in the Big 12 in field goal percentage (.606), while Arizona’s Cunningham is fifth (.598). … Arizona is second in the Big 12 in steals per game (10.7), while the Buffs are 15th in turnovers per game (17.9). … Arizona is 5-3 on the road, including a 67-58 loss at Utah on Friday. That snapped a three-game winning streak for the Wildcats. … Williams had a season highs in points (25), rebounds (seven) and steals (five) against Utah and has scored at least 11 points in 11 consecutive games.
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