Fast break Why the Buffs lost: CU’s defense wasn’t as strong as usual, in part because of foul trouble. That contributed to UCF dominating down the stretch of both halves. Three stars: 1. UCF’s Summer Yancy: Came out of nowhere for a career-high 25 points, including hitting 5-of-6 shots from 3 -point range. She also had six rebounds and three assists. 2. CU’s Zyanna Walker: Made just 3-of-12 from the floor, but scored 13 points and had seven assists, five rebounds and three steals. 3. UCF’s Mahogany Chandler-Roberts: Finished with 10 points and six rebounds. Up next: The Buffs return home to host Oklahoma State at the CU Events Center on Sunday (1 p.m. MT, ESPN+). Colorado guard Desiree Wooten, left, goes up for a layup against Central Florida's Jacorriah Bracey during Sunday's game. (CU Athletics/courtesy photo) ORLANDO, Fla. — Typically, the Colorado women’s basketball team plays strong defense and has a solid understanding of the scouting report going into a game. On Sunday, the Buffs weren’t sharp in either area, and it cost them in a 74-68 loss to Central Florida at Addition Financial Arena. Desiree Wooten led four Buffs in double figures by scoring 15 points, but dismal finishes to both halves doomed them — as did a career day from UCF’s Summer Yancy. “I take responsibility,” CU head coach JR Payne said. “We didn’t understand the game plan going in as well as we needed to, so that’s on me. … Last game out (a 68-62 upset of No. 19 Iowa State), we executed the game plan perfectly, so maybe (it requires better) communication, making them repeat it back to me, as far as clean understanding of what we’re trying to do.” CU (12-7, 3-4 Big 12) fell to 0-5 on the road this season and, like most of those other losses, had a chance to win but faltered late. It was the Buffs’ fourth loss by seven points or less on the road. Zyanna Walker and Wooten hit back-to-back layups to give the Buffs a 60-54 lead with 7 minutes, 25 seconds to play. From that point on, UCF outscored the Buffs 20-8. Yancy had 10 of her career-high 25 points in the final run. A sophomore guard, Yancy came into the game averaging 6.3 points, with a career high of 14, and she was 5-for-25 on the season from 3-point range. Against the Buffs on Sunday, she went 5-for-6 from beyond the arc, including 3-for-3 in the fourth quarter. “She was 2-for-3 at halftime from three, so we needed to make the adjustment there and she finished 5-for-6, so we did not make the adjustment that needed to happen,” Payne said. “I think when someone is clearly shooting the ball well in a game, we have to make an adjustment to guard her tighter, or more communication about where she is, or whatever. We just didn’t do it. And kudos to her because she knocked down big, important shots.” Meanwhile, CU struggled with foul trouble all afternoon, which impacted its effectiveness on defense and in rebounding. The Buffs were outrebounded for just the fourth time this season, with UCF’s plus-7 (41 to 34) the largest margin by an opponent. UCF had 16 offensive rebounds. “Lack of defensive rebounding on our end, I thought, was pretty critical down the stretch,” Payne said. CU led 22-17 after a Tabitha Betson 3-pointer early in the second quarter. Yancy then hit back-to-back 3s to spark 20-2 Knights run that put them ahead 37-24. During that run, CU forward Anaelle Dutat was hit with her second and third fouls and Jade Masogayo with her second. Offensively, the Buffs went 1-for-11 with seven turnovers during that time. Walker then sparked a 14-2 run to open the third, and Logyn Greer kick-started a 10-3 run to open the fourth. But foul trouble continued. Wooten fouled out with 4:24 to play and the Buffs down by one. Masogayo fouled out while trying to hit a layup with 1:03 to play and the Buffs down six. And, Dutat played the last 13 minutes with four fouls. “The entire game, three of our best players were in foul trouble, and so that definitely created a sense of discombobulation,” Payne said. It also contributed to a tough loss to a UCF team that had lost three in a row at home and sat near the bottom of the Big 12 standings going into Sunday. Central Florida 74, Colorado 68 COLORADO (12-7, 3-4 Big 12) Walker 3-12 7-9 13, McErlane 1-5 0-0 3, Masogayo 4-8 4-6 12, Dutat 0-3 1-2 1, Betson 5-12 1-2 13, Gooden 0-0 0- 0, Wooten 7-13 0-2 15, Nworie 1-1 0-0 2, Crook 0-0 0-0 0, Greer 4-7 0-0 9, Zadel 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-61 13-21 68. CENTRAL FLORIDA (10-8, 2-5 Big 12) Bracey 2-4 0-0 4, Yancy 6-8 8-10 25, Chandler-Roberts 2-5 5-6 10, Ngodu 3-10 1-2 7, Harmon 2-9 2-2 7, Bankhead 2-3 0-0 4, Ayson 1-4 2-4 4, Cox 2-9 1-2 5, Scott 3-5 2-2 8. Totals 23-57 21-28 74. Colorado                                 19        10        21        18        –           68 Central Florida                       14        25        12        23        –           74 3-point goals – Colorado 5-20 (Betson 2-7, Wooten 1-4, McErlane 1-3, Greer 1-2, Walker 0-4), UCF 7-18 (Yancy 5-6, Harmon 1-5, Chandler-Roberts 1-1, Cox 0-3, Ayson 0-2, Bracey 0-1). Rebounds – Colorado 34 (Masogayo, Betson 7), UCF 41 (Yancy, Chandler-Roberts 6). Assists – Colorado 18 (Walker 7), UCF 14 (Yancy, Cox 3). Steals – Colorado 11 (Walker 3), UCF 7 (Ngodu, Bankhead 2). Turnovers – Colorado 17, UCF 18. Total fouls – Colorado 25, UCF 17. Fouled out – Masogayo, Wooten. Attendance – 1,156. ...read more read less