CU Buffs women's basketball jump to No. 5 AP poll

JR Payne's team comes out as contenders in Pac-12

Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

The Colorado Buffaloes women's basketball program soared to a new height, jumping 15 spots to No. 5 in the AP Top 25 poll on Monday. It's the highest ranking for the Lady Buffs since 1995.  

"We are very honored to be ranked in the top 5 and appreciate the voter's confidence in us," Lady Buffs head coach JR Payne said. "I'm most proud that while it's very exciting, our team will just continue to work in the exact same fashion we always do and that's trying to be excellent today. Our belief in striving for daily excellence is how we end up in the position that we are. Excited to keep growing and keep getting better."  

Payne's team knocked off top-ranked defending champion LSU as part of the season opening Hall of Fame tournament in Las Vegas last week. It was a runaway blowout of Kim Mulkey's Tigers, who were overtaken by South Carolina at No. 1 in the latest poll. Colorado went ahead of LSU, who settled at No. 7 after the stunning defeat. 

The CU Lady Buffs (3-0) have a difficult schedule ahead and took care of Oklahoma State with a 86-75 win on Nov. 12. They'll hit the road to Dallas and face the SMU Mustangs on Nov. 18 in Dallas before hitting the bulk of the Pac-12 schedule. Colorado is one of five Pac-12 schools to be ranked in the top 10.