University of Northern Colorado Athletics
University of Northern Colorado
10-3 (2-0)
Portland State
6-8 (0-2)
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@UNCBearsWBB With Another Impressive Performance in 91-62 Win Over Portland State
12/31/2016 3:51:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Northern Colorado women's basketball scores 90 points for the second straight game in win over Portland State
GREELEY, Colo. – Northern Colorado women's basketball rang in the New Year a little early on Saturday afternoon, picking up the 91-62 win over Portland State. The win gives UNC 10 for the season, and opens the Big Sky with a 2-0 record.
How it Happened
The first half was a game of runs. Portland State started it with an early 9-0 run, giving them a 9-3 advantage. It would be matched by UNC as the Bears went on an 11-0 run mid-quarter to take lead at 14-9.
PSU tied it up late in the first, but a Danielle Noble basket inside a minute put UNC up 16-14 after the quarter.
Including Noble's basket, Northern Colorado proceeded to go on a 12-1 run and move its lead to double figures. UNC's lead increased to 15 thanks in part to a trio of threes from Kirsten Kramer, before Portland State went on another run of its own.
The Vikings cut the lead down to single digits just before the half with a 7-0 run. UNC would end up leading 42-32 going to the break.
Just like Thursday, Northern Colorado started the second half out strong. They traveled on a 12-0 run to start the third, included a pair of Savannah Scott threes. UNC doubled up the Vikings 32-16 in the quarter to put the game away.
With the game in hand, the Bears were able to get extra playing time for the bench players, as UNC moved to 2-0 in Big Sky play with the 91-62 victory.
Game Changer
For the second straight game, Savannah Scott recorded a double-double, and for the second straight game she did it with points and assists. She led the team with 20 points and had another 11 assist game, tying the career-high she had on Thursday. Scott added in five rebounds and two steals, while hitting four 3-pointers in the game.
Notable
- Northern Colorado scored another 90 points on Saturday, marking the first time since the 1998-99 season that the program has posted back-to-back games of 90 points or more.
- UNC had five players finish the game with double digit point totals in Savannah Scott (20), Savannah Smith (13), Kianna Williams (12), Kirsten Kramer (11) and Courtney Smith (10). Two other Bears just missed out with nine from Danielle Noble and eight from Mandy Karako.
- A pair of bench players for Northern Colorado recorded career-highs in the game Kirsten Kramer had 11 points on 4-of-9 shooting including three 3-pointers during the second quarter. Meanwhile, Abby Kain had eight rebounds for the game, three coming on the offensive end.
- The Bears out-rebounded Portland State by a margin of 42-34. Fourteen of the 42 rebounds game on the offensive glass.
- Northern Colorado's defense held Portland State's top two scorers to 13 points for the game.
Quotable
Junior Forward Kianna Williams
On Team's Strong Offense
"With the way both teams we played this week, they just left us some open spots and we were able to hit those shots on both nights."
Junior Guard Savannah Scott
How Team Played This Week
"We have a lot of good team chemistry right now. We are making good cuts and reads, along with practicing a lot of zone offense since we have faced it a lot recently. When we get it into the high post it means good things will happen for us."
Head Coach Kamie Ethridge
About Team's Strong Offense This Week
"I was surprised that we struggled shooting during the non-conference season. We have better shooters than the statistics were showing. I think we have started to see that recently and definitely in these past two games. I think this is something we can continue to do, and not just look as this as a two game stretch where we scored 90 points."
Second Half Spark
"We really challenged the team at half about our defense giving up 32 points in the first half. Our starters did a great job of opening the second half getting out to that 20-1 run. It was a good statement of our team to respond to the challenge we put on them."
On Heading On the Road
"I have a lot of confidence in our leaders right now. It's not just our upperclassmen, but also our starters. They take such good care of themselves in how they eat and take care of their bodies and how they approach being on the road."
What's Next?
The Bears hit the road next week for their first Big Sky trip. The road will take them to Cedar City, Utah when they face Southern Utah at 7 pm on Thursday. SUU opened its conference season on Saturday against Northern Arizona.
