It didn’t take Colorado women’s basketball coach JR Payne long to realize Maeve McErlane wasn’t going to be a quiet player on the court.
Last spring, McErlane was on a recruiting visit to CU when Payne said to her, “I’ve never been in a practice with you, Maeve, but I can already tell, right now, you’re one of the loudest kids in the gym, as far as talking, getting people organized and things like that.”
McErlane didn’t hesitate in responding with, “One-hundred percent. Absolutely.”
In recent weeks, with Payne suddenly needing to adjust her lineup at point guard, that trait played a role in her turning to McErlane.
Starting point guard Kennedy Sanders had season-ending hip surgery on Monday and McErlane has taken her spot in the starting lineup the past three games. McErlane is likely to be in the lineup again Saturday when the Buffs host Cincinnati.
“I’m an experienced player. This is my fourth year in college,” said McErlane, a transfer from DePaul. “Last year I was hurt, obviously, but I just know the game. I know what level you need to play at in order to execute on the court. Starting, non-starting, I’m just here to give my team what they need.”
McErlane missed the entire 2024-25 season with an injury, but has been healthy with the Buffs. Still, she averaged just 11 minutes in her first nine games this season, and didn’t get off the bench in the Buffs’ 74-68 loss at No. 22 Louisville on Nov. 12.
Juniors Zyanna Walker and Desiree Wooten are two of CU’s top players – in scoring, assists and defense – and both seemed like natural options to take over Sanders’ starting role. But, it was McErlane’s experience and presence that Payne liked for that spot. (Walker also starts, while Wooten continues to be the Buffs’ spark off the bench).
In the past three games, all starts, McErlane has averaged 23 minutes.
“She’s very solid,” Payne said. “She gets us organized. She communicates, she doesn’t make mental errors. She knows where everyone’s supposed to be and is doing a great job of keeping us doing what we’re supposed to do.”
Senior forward Jade Masogayo said McErlane is a calming presence on the court.
“I feel like she’s always there to get us organized whenever we’re a little frantic and all that type of stuff,” Masogayo said.
McErlane was a 25-game starter at DePaul in 2023-24 and said jumping into the starting lineup wasn’t a big deal to her.
“I was a starting point guard when I was (at DePaul), as well,” she said. “I just wanted to be in the role that this team needed me to be.”
McErlane isn’t the scoring threat that Sanders was for the Buffs. Sanders averaged 9.3 points, a number that might have been higher had she been fully healthy. McErlane has scored just 19 points this whole season.
In her three games as a starter, she has three total points – hitting a 3-pointer 85 seconds into her first start, against Northern Colorado on Dec. 16. She’s 0-for-8 from the floor since then, but scoring isn’t what the Buffs are asking of her.
McErlane has 11 assists and five turnovers in her three starts, including seven assists and no turnovers in the Buffs’ 75-56 rout of Arizona on Wednesday. She’s also posted four steals in those three games, while directing the offense.
“I’m finally getting back into the groove of my game, and just having the support from my coaches and my teammates to be able to do that has helped a lot and helped me gain a lot of confidence,” she said.
Of course, the Philadelphia native has remained vocal, which is a trait she learned at a young age from her father, who taught her to shake people’s hands, look them in the eye and to communicate.
“My whole life, I’ve always been a leader on my team,” she said. “I think it just stems from where I come from honestly, just being from Philly. … (The communication) comes from my parents. I’m so grateful that they were able to allow me to learn that trait and, even more so, embrace it. That all comes from them, and I’m really appreciative that I do have that trait.”
CU Buffs women’s basketball vs. Cincinnati
TIPOFF: Saturday, 1 p.m., CU Events Center in Boulder
TV/RADIO: ESPN+/KHOW 630 AM
RECORDS: Colorado 10-4, 1-1 Big 12; Cincinnati 5-9, 0-2 Big 12
COACHES: Colorado — JR Payne, 10th season (174-120; 275-233 career). Cincinnati — Katrina Merriweather, 3rd season (34-41; 185-111 career).
KEY PLAYERS: Colorado — C Jade Crook, 6-4, Fr. (4.6 ppg, 3.1 rpg); F Anaelle Dutat, 6-0, Sr. (9.9 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 2.1 spg, .539 fg%); F Logyn Greer, 6-4, Fr. (11.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg); F Jade Masogayo, 6-3, Sr. (10.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.4 apg, .510 fg%); G Zyanna Walker, 5-11, Jr. (10.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.9 apg, 2.3 spg); G Desiree Wooten, 5-8, Jr. (10.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.6 spg). Cincinnati — G Dee Alexander, 6-2, Fr. (8.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg); G Caliyah DeVillasee, 5-8, Fr. (16.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 5.6 apg); G Reagan Jackson, 5-8, Jr. (11.1 ppg, 2.4 rpg); G Mya Perry, 5-11, Sr. (18.1 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.9 spg); C Destiny Thomas, 6-4, Jr. (6.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg, .711 fg%); F Kylie Torrence, 6-2, Fr. (8.3 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 1.4 spg, 1.4 bpg).
NOTES: CU is 8-1 at home, including a current five-game home win streak. … Cincinnati is 0-4 on the road, including a 79-52 loss at Kansas State on Wednesday. … Dutat is third in the Big 12 in rebounds per game (8.5) and tied for eighth in steals per game (2.14). Walker is seventh in steals (2.29). … CU is seventh in the Big 12 in scoring defense, allowing 58.9 points per game, while Cincinnati is last (70.4). … Both teams are in the bottom five of the Big 12 in field goal percentage, CU at .435 (12th) and Cincinnati at .410 (15th). … CU met Cincinnati for the first time ever on Nov. 23, 2023, beating the Bearcats 77-60 in the Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The teams met for the first time as conference foes on Jan. 18, 2025, in Cincinnati, with the Bearcats winning 65-59. … This will be Cincinnati’s first trip to Boulder. … Alexander was voted by league coaches as the preseason choice for Big 12 freshman of the year, but missed the first 12 games with an injury. She has averaged 8.5 points and 3.5 rebounds in two games since returning. … DeVillasee has earned Big 12 freshman of the week honors twice and landed on the Big 12’s weekly “starting five” three times. She has missed the last four games with an injury, however. … As of Friday, CU was No. 63 in the NET rankings, while Cincinnati was at No. 162.
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