Hollingshed Lands on Preseason Top 50 Watch List
LOS ANGELES – The John R. Wooden Award® presented by Wendy's® announced the Women's Preseason Top 50 Watch List on ESPN.com. Chosen by a preseason poll of national college basketball experts, the list is comprised of 50 student-athletes who are the early frontrunners for the most prestigious honors in college basketball, the Wooden Award All American Team™ and Most Outstanding Player Award.
Colorado's Mya Hollingshed earned her first selection to the watch list. She was one of 10 Pac-12 players announced on Wednesday.
The players on the list are considered strong candidates for the 2022 John R. Wooden Award Women's Player of the Year presented by Wendy's. Players not chosen to the preseason list are still eligible for the Wooden Award™ midseason list, late season list, and the National Ballot. The National Ballot consists of 15 top players who have proven to their universities that they meet or exceed the qualifications of the Wooden Award. Nearly 1,000 voters will rank in order 10 of those 15 players when voting opens prior to the NCAA Tournament and will allow voters to take into consideration performance during early round games. The Wooden Award All American Team™ will be announced the week of the "Elite Eight" round of the NCAA Tournament. The winner of the 2022 John R. Wooden Award will be presented by Wendy's following the NCAA Tournament in April.
Hollingshed, a 2021 All-Pac-12 selection and WBCA honorable mention All-American a year ago, chose to return for an extra fifth season with the Buffaloes during the offseason. She wrapped up the 2020-21 campaign with the best numbers of her career, leading the team in both points (15.4 ppg) and rebounds (7.8 rpg). Hollingshed scored double figures in 20 of CU's 23 games and recorded 10 or more points in 18 straight games, from Dec. 6 to Mar. 19.
The Houston, Texas, native, was eighth in the Pac-12 with 355 points scored last season and became the 32nd player in program history to surpass 1,000 career points (1,244). Hollingshed snagged 179 rebounds last season (3rd Pac-12), giving her 681 for her career (15th all-time).
Colorado Opens at Oklahoma State on Wednesday
STILLWATER, Okla--The Buffaloes will kickoff the 2021-22 season against longtime Big 12 rival Oklahoma State on Wednesday. It will be the first time Colorado has started the season away from the CU Events Center since playing at Samford to start the 2017-18 season.
Colorado is 42-5 all-time in its season openers and has won the last 20, dating back to the start of the 1999-2000 season.
Along with Hollingshed, the Buffs return Pac-12 All-Freshman Frida Formann and Pac-12 All-Defensive team selection Jaylyn Sherrod. Seniors Peanut Tuitele and Lesila Finau enter their fourth year in the program, playing valuable minutes since their freshman season.
The Buffs shook off the cobwebs in the team's 63-52 exhibition win over Colorado Mines on Nov. 1. The Buffs overcame a slow start to build up a 26-point fourth-quarter lead. Sherrod led the Buffs with her nine points and three steals. Finau and Tayanna Jones had eight points apiece.
"I think it's always important to be able to play under the lights, especially after not playing in front of any fans last year," head coach JR Payne explained. "It was really important to be able to get out and play in front of people and try different lineups and get everyone on the floor. Besides practice, that's the only preparation we have for a great team like Oklahoma State."
The Buffs and Cowgirls have a long history but haven't met since the 2012 WNIT. CU and OSU have each won 26 games in the series. Oklahoma State has won the last six games in the series, with CU's last win coming in a 73-62 matchup in 2006.
Wednesday's renewal comes with both teams coming off postseason appearances to cap the 2020-21 season. The Buffs advanced to the quarterfinals of the WNIT, while Oklahoma State advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
"They're [Oklahoma State] a Big 12 team who has had a lot of success," Payne added. "They're playing on their home-court on opening night, also for the first time in front of fans in a long time. They are a tough opponent and we're excited about the challenge. We're going to have to be at our best to handle business down there."
Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. MT on Wednesday. The game will be streamed online on Big 12 Now/ESPN+.