The Colorado women’s basketball team has some trouble trying to slow down Lior Garzon on Nov. 12 in a home win against Oklahoma State.
The Buffaloes would love to see a lot more of those types of performances from Garzon next season.
On Monday, CU announced it has signed the former Oklahoma State and Villanova forward to a financial aid agreement. Garzon will play her final season of college basketball for CU and head coach JR Payne.
“We have known Lior for a long time and love everything about her,” Payne said in a press release. “Lior can flat-out score the ball and will be an incredible addition to our squad. Her success in the Big 12 and her versatility to play multiple positions will open things up for everyone on the floor. I love that Lior brings a wealth of experience both in college and on the international level and will be a tremendous asset to our Buff Family.”
A 6-foot-1 fifth-year senior from Ra’anana, Israel, Garzon averaged 9.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists for OSU last season, starting all 30 games for the Cowgirls. She had 17 points, including hitting 5-of-9 3-pointers, and three rebounds against CU on Nov. 12 in Boulder.
Garzon played her first two seasons at Villanova, including as a full-time starter in 2021-22. That year, she averaged 13.1 points and 4.0 rebounds while helping the Wildcats reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament. She has spent the last two seasons at OSU, averaging 10.0 points and 3.8 rebounds.
As a reserve in 2022-23, Garzon helped the Cowgirls get to the NCAA Tournament, posting 10.8 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.
In her career, Garzon has played 119 games, with 66 starts. She has scored 1,257 points (10.6 per game), while also averaging 3.7 rebounds. She’s also connected on 34.1% of her 3-pointers (245-of-718) and has been a 76.4% free throw shooter. She has made at least 60 3-pointers in each of the last three seasons, including a career-high 80 in 2022-23.
Garzon will be the first known student-athlete at CU from Israel in any sport. Her sister, Yarden, plays at Indiana.
Adding Garzon gives the Buffs some much-needed experience at forward. Between graduation and transfers, CU doesn’t have any forwards returning from last season. The only other forward projected on the roster at this point is incoming freshman Tabitha Betson, from Australia.
The Buffs also have a pair of solid rebounding wings in returning senior Sara-Rose Smith and Iowa State transfer Nyamer Diew. Incoming freshman Grace Oliver, from Norwell, Mass., also plays on the wing.
At guard, the Buffs have three returning players in Frida Formann, Kennedy Sanders and Kindyll Wetta. They’re also bringing in freshman guard Lova Lagerlid, from Sweden.
Guard Tameiya Sadler, who has spent the past three years with the Buffs, is still undecided on whether or not to return for her bonus season granted to all players from the 2020-21 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Payne and her staff have either five or six scholarship spots to fill, depending on Sadler’s decision.