Women's Basketball Completes the Texas Two Step

Monday, November 17

Denton, Texas

10:30 am

University of Northern Colorado

2-0

North Texas

0-2

Northern Colorado

North Texas

11/17/2014 2:12:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

UNC women's basketball finished off their two game road trip in the Lone Star state 2-0.

By: Ryan Pfeifer, UNCBears.com

Denton, Texas – Fighting off a sluggish offensive first half and foul trouble, Northern Colorado's women's basketball team came out victorious against North Texas 53-48.

"We fought through and showed a lot of grit and determination to get the win while not playing at our best today" said head coach Kamie Ethridge."North Texas was an athletic, lengthy team that provided challenges for us."

Sophomore forward Kourtney Zadina (Seward, Neb.) had a career day, recording career highs in points (13), rebounds (6), and recorded her first career steal while coming off the bench.

"We got great minutes off of the bench, they gave us good energy and kept us in the game" said Ethridge.

Zadina was joined by D'shara Strange (Fountain, Colo.) as the only other Bear to score double-digits. Strange finished with 17 and tied for a team high rebounds with eight.
Stephanie Lee (Casper, Wyo.) was the other Bear to have eight rebounds.

The free throw line came up to be a huge factor during the game, Northern Colorado (2-0) finished shooting 76.2% from the line while the Mean Green (0-2) shot only 34.8%.

Both Northern Colorado and North Texas struggled to score in the first half shooting 23.8% and 25.9%, respectively.

"Our defensive game was never affected by the struggles on offense, it helped keep us in the game" Ethridge said.

Lindsay Mallon (Lone Tree, Colo.) got the Bears out to an early lead sinking her first two three point shots for a 6-3 at the 17:15 mark. The teams traded buckets for the next 10 minutes of play.

After Strange sank two free throws to keep the Bears lead at three points with 9:01 on the clock, UNC went on a six minute scoring drought allowing UNT to take the lead.

Northern Colorado entered the last minute of the half down two points before closing it on a 4-0 run.

Even with the struggle on the offensive end UNC entered the locker room with a 19-17 lead thanks to forcing nine turnovers and good ball movement. Of the Bears five baskets in the first half four of them came off assists.

The second half started off well for North Texas as they built their lead out to five, before the Bears made their comeback.

Near the halfway point of the second half the teams were tied at 29 when UNC went on a 7-2 run over the next two minutes to take the lead for good. Zadinia sparked the Bears run with two big three point shots.

UNT was able to cut the Bears lead down to one before an 8-0 run ended any Mean Green hopes of a comeback.

"Our team is excited to come home and play in front of our home fans" said Ethridge. "To come home undefeated from the road trip is nice to have, but we know we can continue to improve."

Northern Colorado will now have a week off before returning to play next Monday, Nov. 24 at 5:00 p.m. at Bank of Colorado Arena for their home opener against Western State. The game is the first of a double header followed by the men's team taking on Colorado Christian at 7:30.