@UNCBearsWBB Survives and Advances to Big Sky Title Game

Friday, March 13

Missoula, Mont.

11:00 am

University of Northern Colorado

20-11

Sacramento State

16-15

Team	1	2	OT 1	F
Northern Colorado	34	38	9	81
Sacramento State	31	41	7	79

3/13/2015 3:48:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Ryan Pfeifer, UNCBears.com

MISSOULA, Mont. – It took more than just two halves for Northern Colorado women's basketball team to move on to the Big Sky Championship game Friday afternoon, but the Bears (20-11) gutted out a thrilling 81-79 victory in over Sacramento State.

"I am extremely proud of our team," head coach Kamie Ethridge said. "Sacramento State has been playing some of its best basketball all year, and I thought we executed our game plan very well."

D'shara Strange's (Fountain, Colo.) jumper from the left block with five seconds remaining sent the game into overtime with a score of 72 apiece.

"I was confident in myself and my teammates going into that last play, and I could tell they had confidence in me," Strange said.

Stephanie Lee (Casper, Wyo.) got the Bears on the board first in the overtime period with a jumper inside the paint, and then went down on the other end of the court to block a 3-point shot from the Hornets.

Lee ended the game with 17 points, nine rebounds, five blocks and three steals.

The teams proceeded to exchange baskets, until the 1:37 mark of overtime, when Lindsay Mallon (Lone Tress, Colo.) drove down the left side of the paint and got a lay-up to put UNC up 80-78

On the ensuing possession Sacramento State's (16-15) Adella Randle-El made one of two free throws to cut the lead down to one with 1:22 remaining.

The Bears defense held the Hornets over the last 1:22 to two missed 3-point attempts and only one point to secure the win.

Strange lead UNC with 23 points and 13 rebounds. It was her 12th double-double of the year. Strange once again made Northern Colorado history becoming the first player to record 1,000 career rebounds. She is only the sixth Big Sky player to reach the mark.

Northern Colorado got out to a good start doubling up Sacramento State, 20-10 through the first 11 minutes of the game. During that stretch Sacramento State missed its first ten 3-point attempts.

The Bears held a nine point lead with 5:52 remaining in the first half, when Sac State went on a 9-0 run over a 1:30 stretch to tie the game. Kourteney Zadinia (Seward, Neb.) hit one of her career-high tying six three point shots to end the run.

Zadina finished the game with 18 points, making six of the teams 10, 3-pointers.

"At first I was a little reluctant to shoot, thinking we needed to run our plays," Zadina said. "Coach got on me a little bit and that made me feel confident to know she wanted me to take those shots."

Northern Colorado entered the half with a 34-31 lead.

Freshman Savannah Scott (Campbell, Calif.) had a very good first half for the Bears grabbing six rebounds, while dishing out two assists. She finished the game with a career-high nine rebounds to go with nine points and five assists.

Sacramento State came out strong to open the second half. Going on a 9-2 run to take a four point lead.

With 11:58 left in the second half, the Hornets built its largest lead to six points, but it did not last long as the Bears tied the game up at 51 by the midway mark.

Over the final 10 minutes of regulation the teams went on to produce five ties and three lead changes.

Sac State regained their first lead since the 9:10 point in the second after an Adella Randle-El jumper hit with 23 second left in the second half.

Ethridge took her final three timeouts to set up a play to get the ball in the hands of Co-Big Sky MVP, Strange to tie the game and send it into overtime where the Bears earned the victory.

"It is exciting to go to the championship game," said Strange. "I would not ask for another group of girls to be playing with and am just so glad to be wearing a Northern Colorado jersey."

The Bears now move on to their third Big Sky Championship game in four years on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. against the Lady Griz of Montana.

"Only one team gets through in this environment," Ethridge said. "We have a ten game winning streak right now, but really the only winning streak that matters now is a one game."