University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Saturday, March 14
Missoula, Mont.
2:00 pm
University of Northern Colorado
20-12
49
at
60
Montana
24-8
1
2
F
Northern Colorado
29
20
49
Montana
16
44
60
Big Montana Second Half Hurts @UNCBearsWBB
3/14/2015 5:32:00 PM | Women's Basketball
A big second half by Montana hurt UNC women's basketball in the Big Sky Championship
MISSOULA, Mont. – It was a tale of two halves for the Northern Colorado women's basketball team on Saturday afternoon in the Big Sky Championship game against Montana. The Bears (20-12) got out to an excellent start, but a poor second half hurt them as Montana (24-8) went on to win the game 60-49.
"The game was ours to have after the first half, but what you saw was a very prideful Montana team that was very physical in the second half," head coach Kamie Ethridge said.
Seniors D'shara Strange (Fountain, Colo.) and Stephanie Lee (Casper, Wyo.) were the lone Bears to score in double figures. Strange led the way with 23 points and seven rebounds.
Meanwhile Lee added in 11 points and blocked five shots in the game.
Both players were named to the All-Tournament team.
Montana got out to a quick 6-1 lead, but it was all Bears after that in the first half. UNC outscored the Griz the rest of the way 28-10, using a couple of big runs to gain the lead.
UNC responded with a 14-0 rally behind stellar defense and balanced scoring. During Montana's 6:39 scoring drought UNC forced five turnovers.
UM had seven turnovers overall in the first half.
Montana proceed to go on a miniature 4-0 streak to cut Northern Colorado's lead to 22-14, but the Bears took advantage of another UM scoring drought.
The Griz failed to score a point from the 3:17 mark until the .32 second mark of the first half allowing UNC to build its lead back up to 13 going into the second half.
The 16 points in the first half marked the lowest point total for Montana all season in a half.
In the second 20 minutes of play Montana used the combination of 32 points in the paint, 11 second chance points and nine offensive rebounds to come all the way back against Northern Colorado.
"In the second half Montana was the aggressor and you can see that in the points in the paint and offensive boards," said Ethridge.
UNC had a 14 point lead of 36-22 with 15:11 remaining in the game, when Montana went on a 21-7 run over the span of eight minutes and twenty three seconds to tie the game at 43.
The teams would trade baskets, before another run of 10-0 by the Griz would ultimately put the game away.
Montana's Maggie Rickman had 18 points in the second half for Montana to lead its comeback.
The Bears shot just 21.7 percent after intermission.
Northern Colorado will now wait until late Monday night to hear if they will receive a bid to the WNIT.
"The game was ours to have after the first half, but what you saw was a very prideful Montana team that was very physical in the second half," head coach Kamie Ethridge said.
Seniors D'shara Strange (Fountain, Colo.) and Stephanie Lee (Casper, Wyo.) were the lone Bears to score in double figures. Strange led the way with 23 points and seven rebounds.
Meanwhile Lee added in 11 points and blocked five shots in the game.
Both players were named to the All-Tournament team.
Montana got out to a quick 6-1 lead, but it was all Bears after that in the first half. UNC outscored the Griz the rest of the way 28-10, using a couple of big runs to gain the lead.
UNC responded with a 14-0 rally behind stellar defense and balanced scoring. During Montana's 6:39 scoring drought UNC forced five turnovers.
UM had seven turnovers overall in the first half.
Montana proceed to go on a miniature 4-0 streak to cut Northern Colorado's lead to 22-14, but the Bears took advantage of another UM scoring drought.
The Griz failed to score a point from the 3:17 mark until the .32 second mark of the first half allowing UNC to build its lead back up to 13 going into the second half.
The 16 points in the first half marked the lowest point total for Montana all season in a half.
In the second 20 minutes of play Montana used the combination of 32 points in the paint, 11 second chance points and nine offensive rebounds to come all the way back against Northern Colorado.
"In the second half Montana was the aggressor and you can see that in the points in the paint and offensive boards," said Ethridge.
UNC had a 14 point lead of 36-22 with 15:11 remaining in the game, when Montana went on a 21-7 run over the span of eight minutes and twenty three seconds to tie the game at 43.
The teams would trade baskets, before another run of 10-0 by the Griz would ultimately put the game away.
Montana's Maggie Rickman had 18 points in the second half for Montana to lead its comeback.
The Bears shot just 21.7 percent after intermission.
Northern Colorado will now wait until late Monday night to hear if they will receive a bid to the WNIT.
Team Stats
UNCO
UM
FG%
.362
.406
3FG%
.235
.000
FT%
.647
.727
RB
26
47
TO
10
9
STL
7
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
23
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
7
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
C/F
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