Although Colorado women’s basketball coach JR Payne knew she was going to have an almost completely new roster this year, she was encouraged by several qualities the group possessed. One of those top qualities, Payne said, was that the Buffs would be loaded with good 3-point shooters. Three games into the season, however, that hasn’t shown up on game days. On Tuesday, the Buffs will take on Nevada in a neutral site game in Lake Tahoe and they’ll be trying to get on track beyond the arc. CU went 0 for 17 from 3-point range in Sunday’s 50-47 loss at Boise State, snapping a streak of 125 consecutive games with at least one made 3. That was the low point, but the Buffs are just 8 for 47 (17%) overall on the season, including 1 for 27 (3.7%) in two road games. “We need to shoot better,” Payne said after Sunday’s loss. “(Going) 0-for-17 from 3, and maybe a couple of them were rushed or late clock, but I think we’re getting decent looks. (I) have to go back and watch the film, but I don’t think they’re bad looks. We have to be able to put them in. We were definitely disjointed from uncertain times and places on the floor. We have to figure out why are we disjointed? What can we do to fix those things?” Although CU has played all three games without senior Frida Formann — the program’s career leader in made 3-pointers, with 260 — it does have other good shooters who just aren’t hitting. Oklahoma State transfer Lior Garzon came into the year as a 34.2% shooter from 3-point range in her career, with 244 made 3s, but she’s just 2 for 16 so far this year. Johanna Teder hit 33.6% (154 of 458) in her three seasons at Washington State, but is 1 for 4 this year. Veterans Kindyll Wetta (0 for 5) and Sarah-Rose Smith (1 for 6), and freshman Tabitha Betson (2 for 9) are also off to slow starts. Against Boise State, the Buffs also missed 14 layups. They did go 7 for 8 (87.5%) from the free throw line but have made just 63.8% (30 of 47) from the line this season. CU is averaging 61.3 points per game so far this season, including 51.5 in two road games. “The bottom line is we have to be able to put the ball in the hoop,” Payne said. “We need to make sure that we’re addressing areas that we’re missing early looks and figure out what we can do to ensure we get cleaner looks.” CU Buffs women’s basketball vs. Nevada TIPOFF: Tuesday, 8 p.m. MT, Tahoe Blue Event Center in Stateline, Nev. TV/RADIO: Mountain West Network/KHOW 630 AM Related Articles College Sports | Women’s basketball notes: Former CU star Jaylyn Sherrod makes impact in Buffs’ opener College Sports | Kindyll Wetta, Frida Formann shoulder high hopes for CU Buffs women’s basketball entering 2024-25 College Sports | JR Payne, CU Buffs women’s basketball ready for “intellectual challenge” of Big 12 College Sports | CU women’s basketball features 10 newcomers and international makeup, but same NCAA Tournament goal College Sports | Women’s basketball: CU Buffs celebrate former star Jaylyn Sherrod winning WNBA title RECORDS: Colorado 2-1; Nevada 1-1 COACHES: Colorado — JR Payne, 9th season (145-104; 246-217 career). Nevada — Amanda Levens, 8th season (106-111; 148-187 career). KEY PLAYERS: Colorado — F Tabitha Betson, 6-2, Fr. (4.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg); F Nyamer Diew, 6-2, Sr. (9.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.7 spg); F Lior Garzon, 6-1, Sr. (9.7 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.7 spg); F Jade Masogayo, 6-3, Jr. (13.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.7 apg, .516 FG%); G Sara-Rose Smith, 6-1, Sr. (6.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg); G Johanna Teder, 5-11, Sr. (6.3 ppg, .615 FG%); G Kindyll Wetta, 5-9, Sr. (5.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 6.3 apg, 2.0 spg). Nevada — G Victoria Davis, 5-4, Sr. (10.0 ppg, 1.5 rpg); F Lexie Givens, 6-0, Sr. (10.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg); F Kennedy Lee, 6-0, Jr. (13.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.0 spg); G Dymonique Maxie, 5-8, So. (5.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.5 apg, 2.0 spg); F Olivia Poulivaati, 6-0, Fr. (6.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg); G Audrey Roden, 5-9, Sr. (5.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 2.0 apg); G Izzy Sullivan, 5-10, So. (7.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 3.5 apg). NOTES: The Buffs are looking to bounce back from Sunday’s 50-47 loss at Boise State. … This is a neutral site game called the Tahoe Tip Off. It will be the first-ever NCAA game at the Tahoe Blue Event Center. The arena, which seats about 4,700 fans for basketball, is home to the Tahoe Knight Monsters, a minor league hockey team from the ECHL. … Coming off the bench, Smith has had at least seven rebounds in every game so far for the Buffs, while Wetta has posted at least four assists in each game. … Despite early shooting woes, the Buffs are holding opponents to just 55.3 points per game and to a .383 shooting percentage. … This will be the Buffs’ third opponent from the Mountain West Conference already. They’ll face a fourth MWC team, Utah State, at home on Nov. 19. … Nevada was projected for a seventh-place in the MWC. … Nevada opened its season with a 76-58 loss at Oregon and then on Friday got a 70-48 win at home against Bushnell College, an NAIA school from Oregon. … The Wolf Pack went 16-16 a year ago. They return five players who started at least 14 games, including two full-time starters (Givens and Roden). … Ula Motuga, who played with Teder at Washington State, is an assistant coach for Nevada. Want more sports news? Sign up for the Sports Omelette to get all our analysis on Denver’s teams.