Throughout the offseason, Colorado women’s basketball coach JR Payne would frequently hear the excitement in the voice of freshman Jade Crook.

“About once every few weeks, she would say to me, ‘I’m just so excited to play. I can’t wait until we play,’ with that almost, like, youthful excitement,” Payne said this week.

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A 6-foot-4 freshman center from Australia, Crook turned that excitement into a stellar debut in the Buffs’ season opener last Thursday. She came off the bench to post 12 points and seven rebounds in an 84-59 win against New Mexico.

“I thought it was awesome, for all this time that she’s been showing that eagerness, for her to have her first game and play really well,” Payne said.

It’s the type of performance CU hopes to get again on Wednesday when it hit

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