TIPOFF: Thursday, 7 p.m., at CU Events Center

TV/RADIO: ESPN+/KHOW 630 AM

RECORDS: Colorado 1-0; Northern Colorado 1-0

COACHES: Colorado — JR Payne, 9th season (144-103; 245-216 career). Northern Colorado — Kristen Mattio, 4th season (44-50; 198-85 career).

KEY PLAYERS: Colorado (2023-24 stats) — F Tabitha Betson, 6-2, Fr.; F Nyamer Diew, 6-2, Sr. (5.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg at Iowa State); G Frida Formann, 5-11, Sr. (12.5 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 2.1 apg); F Lior Garzon, 6-1, Sr. (9.0 ppg, 4.2 rpg at Oklahoma State); F Jade Masogayo, 6-3, Jr. (8.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg at Missouri State); G Sara-Rose Smith, 6-1, Sr. (3.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg); G Kindyll Wetta, 5-9, Sr. (5.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.9 apg, 1.8 spg).Northern Colorado (2023-24 stats) — G Gabi Fields, 5-5, Jr. (6.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.8 spg); G London Gamble, 5-8, Jr. (6.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg at Siena College); F Aniah Hall, 6-3, Jr. (10.0 ppg, 5.7 rpg, .556 FG%); G Silvia Nativi, 6-0, Sr. (5.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 3.4 apg at Louisiana Tech); F Ella Van Weelden, 6-2, Jr. (2.2 ppg at Valparaiso); F Tatum West, 6-3, Jr. (8.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg).

NOTES: CU is looking to start 2-0 for the seventh consecutive season. … The Buffs have won 16 consecutive home openers. The last loss in a home opener came against Siena on Nov. 23, 2007. … In their history, the Buffs are 48-2 in home openers. … Under Payne, the Buffs are 48-2 in nonconference home games, including a current 36-game win streak. The last loss came on Dec. 11, 2017, against Dartmouth. … CU leads the all-time series with the Bears, 14-6, including 11 wins in a row. UNC’s last win was 59-53 in Greeley on Jan. 27, 1978. … CU beat the Bears 78-56 in Boulder on Dec. 21, 2023. UNC led 14-0 early before CU got in gear. … UNC beat Concordia (Neb.) in its opener on Monday, 66-64, in Greeley. Gamble had 18 points, while Hall had 13 points and seven rebounds. … UNC was picked to finish fifth in the Big Sky Conference in a coaches poll as well as a media poll.