Going against a former teammate provided Jade Masogayo with some familiarity on Saturday afternoon.

Lately, however, it doesn’t seem to matter who is in the paint on the other side. Masogayo is establishing herself as one of the better post players in the Big 12, and her performance on Saturday was critical to Colorado’s 63-53 upset of No. 10 Kansas State at the CU Events Center.

“We all have been telling Jade that since she got here,” CU head coach JR Payne said. “Her teammates tell her all the time how much they believe in her and so, yes, absolutely she’s one of the best post players in the Big 12.”

A junior in her first season at CU, Masogayo had 13 points, seven rebounds and a season-high four blocked shots to lead a spirited effort by the Buffs (13-6, 4-4 Big 12). Frida Formann had 14 points, Johanna Teder had 10 points and three assists, and Kindyll Wetta added eight points and four assists.

Although K-State (19-2, 7-1), which had won 14 straight, was without star center Ayoka Lee, who is out with a foot injury, it leaned on other talented post players, especially Kennedy Taylor.

Taylor began her career at CU but played the past two seasons at Missouri State with Masogayo.

“It was really like practice,” Masogayo said. “It was really fun matching up against her, seeing her again.”

The former teammates had some good battles throughout the day — Taylor finished with 12 points and eight rebounds — but it was Masogayo getting the upper hand, especially in crunch time.

K-State pulled within 53-51 on a 3-pointer by Temira Poindexter with 6:15 to play. CU outscored the Wildcats 10-2 the rest of the way, in part because Masogayo had three of her four blocks in the last 4:40 — including one against Taylor.

“It’s a lot of fun, especially when you can do it without fouling,” Masogayo said.

Guarding without fouling was a key for all the Buffs, who came into the game averaging the most fouls in conference play in the Big 12 (21.43 per game). On Saturday, the Buffs finished with just eight fouls — their fewest in a game since having five against Pepperdine on Nov. 27, 2018.

“Really proud of our team,” Payne said. “There were a couple things we’ve worked on every day this week, which was limiting turnovers, taking care of the ball, and then trying to keep our opponent off the free throw line — to be able to defend without fouling. And I think those are the two areas that stand out on the stat sheet.”

Kansas State attempted just two free throws — both in the first quarter — and the Buffs, who committed 51 turnovers in two games last week, matched their season low with 12.

The Buffs didn’t get off to a good start, as K-State went on a 13-2 run to take a 13-5 lead late in the first quarter. CU closed to within 16-10 by the end of the quarter and then got off to a hot start to the second.

“I just told them, ‘Hey, be confident, and everyone has your back,’” Teder said of her message to the team after the first quarter. “Like, if you miss, we’re gonna get the rebound and put it back. So I know everyone was really confident for attacking the rim. That was really good change after that.”

CU outscored the Wildcats in every quarter the rest of the way, earning the 21st win against a top-10 team in program history. Seven of those have come in the past four years under Payne.

“It was really fun,” Teder said. “Upsets are always fun, and I just felt the crowd, the team, the whole energy; the whole game was just fun. That’s why we play, honestly.”