With the transfer portal era in full swing and roster overhauls seemingly a new annual tradition, it can be hard for a coach to know the mental makeup of their teams from year to year. About halfway through this season, however, Colorado women’s basketball coach JR Payne has learned this about her players: they’ll fight, regardless of the opponent or location. Colorado’s Anaelle Dutat, left, tries to drive around the defense of Baylor’s Bella Fontleroy during a women’s basketball game at Foster Pavilion in Waco, Texas, on Jan. 8, 2026. (CU Athletics) On Thursday night, the Buffs, who have 10 new players this season, nearly pulled an upset against a star-studded Baylor lineup, ultimately falling 56-52 to the 16th-ranked Bears in Waco, Texas. “I think we know that we can compete on any given night with any team, no matter whether it’s at home or on the road,” Payne said. “The fact that there were things that, just one or two possessions go different and you win the game, is something that speaks to where we’re capable of being.” CU (11-5, 2-2 Big 12) will look to bring the fight again on Sunday at Oklahoma State, which isn’t ranked in the Associated Press Top 25, but is No. 29 in the NET rankings and was ranked the first six weeks of the season. The Buffs, projected for a ninth-place finish in the Big 12, have had some good and bad moments this season as they’ve adjusted to a new roster. However, in two games against top 25 opponents – both on the road – they’ve brought the fight. On Nov. 12 at then-No. 22 Louisville, the Buffs led by five early in the fourth quarter and trailed by just two before the Cardinals hit four free throws in the last 17 seconds to win 74-68. At Baylor, CU had a third-quarter lead, never trailed by more than eight, and got within two in the closing seconds. While Payne and the Buffs aren’t keen on celebrating moral victories, those two games in particular have given the staff confidence that they’ve got a set of players that won’t back down in big games. “Yeah, 100%,” Payne said. “We have a great group of girls, like, just awesome, but mentality-wise, every player that is new, which is 10 of them, is bringing in a mentality that may not be exactly the same as ours. It might be great, like (they’re coming from) a winning program and lots of success and things like that but our mentality in our program is, I think, unique and just different than other places.” Throughout Payne’s 10 seasons in Boulder, the Buffs have always adopted an underdog mentality. CU’s never had McDonald’s All-Americans on the roster and has never been viewed nationally as one of the elite programs, even during their back-to-back Sweet 16 appearances in 2023 and 2024. In fact, in both of those Sweet 16 runs, the Buffs had to go on the road in the NCAA Tournament and pull off upsets to advance. The key to those upsets? A hard-nosed, underdog mentality. “We’ve always been the underdog,” Payne said. “Our mentality has always just been tougher, fearless, sort of that underdog mindset. It takes a while to acclimate to that if you haven’t been that. … That mindset of just absolutely like dawg, like fearless, it takes time if you’re not naturally wired that way.” The positive Payne took out of Thursday is that her team seems to have acclimated to the underdog mentality. “I think that’s what we saw the other night, a group that is really striving to be that,” Payne said. Senior Jade Masogayo, the lone returning starter from last year, as well as newcomers such as Zyanna Walker, Anaelle Dutat and Desiree Wooten, are leading that charge. But, the message to the team since Thursday hasn’t been to celebrate the effort, but to realize there’s another level to reach. “We definitely have what it takes to beat top teams and we are a top team, too, but you’ve got to be able to make winning plays when it matters,” Payne said. CU shot a season-low 28.4% against Baylor, missed some key free throws down the stretch and failed to box out on couple of rebound opportunities in key moments. “It’s more of like, yeah, we’re right there with these teams and, hey, handle your business,” Payne said. “Handle the details, execute this and you win the game. … We go into that game expecting to beat them.” That’s a mentality Payne is pleased to see out of her Buffs, especially with many more big games ahead. Beginning Sunday, six of the next 12 games are against teams either ranked in national polls or receiving votes. “The message is we’re right there,” Payne said. “So handle your business and let’s go win these games.” CU Buffs women’s basketball at Oklahoma State TIPOFF: Saturday, 12 p.m. MT, Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Oklahoma TV/RADIO: ESPN+/KHOW 630 AM RECORDS: Colorado 11-5, 2-2 Big 12; Oklahoma State 13-4, 2-2 Big 12 COACHES: Colorado — JR Payne, 10th season (175-121; 276-234 career). Oklahoma State — Jacie Hoyt, 4th season (73-39; 154-104 career). KEY PLAYERS: Colorado — C Jade Crook, 6-4, Fr. (4.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg, .516 fg%); F Anaelle Dutat, 6-0, Sr. (9.9 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 2.1 spg, .542 fg%); F Logyn Greer, 6-4, Fr. (10.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg); F Jade Masogayo, 6-3, Sr. (9.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.3 apg, .500 fg%); G Zyanna Walker, 5-11, Jr. (10.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.6 apg, 2.3 spg); G Desiree Wooten, 5-8, Jr. (11.2 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.5 spg). Oklahoma State — F Achol Akot, 6-1, Jr. (10.4 ppg, 7.8 rpg, .658 fg%); G Lena Girardi, 5-11, Fr. (12.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg, .423 3pt%); G Micah Gray, 5-8, Sr. (14.9 ppg, 2.2 apg); G Stailee Heard, 5-11, Jr. (10.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.2 apg); G Haleigh Timmer, 5-11, Sr. (14.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.0 apg, .546 fg%, .470 3pt%); G Amari Whiting, 5-10, Jr. (11.1 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 3.6 apg, 2.1 spg); G Jadyn Wooten, 5-6, So. (13.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 5.6 apg, .552 fg%). NOTES: The Buffs continue their two-game road swing, after losing at Baylor on Thursday. … CU is 0-3 on the road this season, while OSU is 9-1 at home. … The Buffs are 1-10 in Big 12 road games since rejoining the conference in 2024. … CU leads the all-time series with the Cowgirls, 28-27, but they’re 10-15 in Stillwater. OSU has won seven of the last nine matchups, including 82-65 in Stillwater on Feb. 22, 2025. … Dutat leads the Big 12 in offensive rebounds, with 3.81 per game. OSU’s Akot is second, at 3.29. … Girardi leads the Big 12 in made 3-pointers (2.93 per game), while Timmer is third (2.76) and Gray is fifth (2.59). Timmer leads the conference in 3-point percentage (.470). … OSU is the top scoring team in the conference, at 89.6 points per game. CU is 13th, at 69.7. … The Cowgirls are also the top rebounding team in the conference, with a margin of plus-12.1. CU is fifth, at plus-8.1. … Three of OSU’s losses have come against teams currently in the Associated Press Top 20: No. 5 Oklahoma, No. 13 TCU and No. 16 Baylor. … OSU is No. 29 in the NET rankings and CU is No. 57. ...read more read less