@UNCBearsWBB Picks Up Road Win at Portland State 70-59

Saturday, February 27

Portland, Ore.

3:00 pm

University of Northern Colorado

12-14, 7-9BSC

Portland State

3-24, 1-15BSC

Team	1	2	3	4	F
Northern Colorado	18	13	17	22	70
Portland State	9	15	8	27	59

Photo by: Rob Trubia

2/27/2016 6:47:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Northern Colorado women's basketball defeated Portland State Saturday 70-59

By: Ryan Pfeifer, UNCBears.com

PORTLAND -- Northern Colorado women's basketball closed out its road schedule for the 2015-16 season with a 70-59 win at Portland State Saturday afternoon. The win snapped the team's three game losing streak.

The Bears never trailed in the game and led for 38:34 of it.

"It was just great to get a win. This team has worked so hard and wanted to get the wins," head coach Kamie Ethridge. "We did a lot of good things today against a variety of different looks defensively. I thought both Katie (Longwell) and Savannah Scott did a nice job with that. We also did a good job working on ourselves as well during the game."

Northern Colorado was led in the game behind its veterans Kyleigh Hiser, Rebecca Howell and Savannah Scott.

The trio combined for 46 of the team's points and 12 rebounds.

Hiser led them all with 21 points, one off her career-high. She earned those points shooting 50 percent from the field, including hitting three 3-pointers, along with dishing out two assists and grabbing two steals.

"Kyleigh made big shots for us today at the times we needed them," said Ethridge. "Both her and Rebecca (Howell) have been playing really well recently and that's exactly what we want to see out of our seniors."

Howell and Scott added in 13 and 12 points, respectively for the team. Howell also had seven rebounds.

"Rebecca had another solid game for us today and was a great presence and calming effect for us on the floor, definitely when Portland State was making their runs," Ethridge said.

UNC started the game on 13-2 run to gain its lead and never looked back. By the time the horn sounded to end the first quarter, the team led 18-9. In the quarter they had an assist on all eight of their made baskets.

For the second straight game they finished with 20 assists overall. Seven of those coming from Katie Longwell.

PSU used an early 7-0 run in the second quarter to get within two at 20-18. During that time UNC was held scoreless for almost three minutes of play.

A Kourtney Zadina jumper ended the drought, and UNC went on to extend its lead back to 31-24 at half.

During the first half UNC was led by Hiser's seven points and Kianna Williams' six rebounds.

Just like her teammate, Williams finished one rebound shy of her career-high ending the day with nine. She also contributed four points, three steals, an assists and a block for the team.

"Kianna was a really good defensive presences and rebounder for us. She made an impact for us outside of shooting and scoring which is what you like to see," Ethridge said of the sophomore. "She and Savannah Scott are really blending into those types of players for us which we love to see their heart and
hustle every day."

After the break the Bears went on a 15-1 run over seven minutes in the third quarter to grow its lead to 48-32 by the end of it.

PSU didn't back down though, starting the fourth quarter on a 13-0 run to pull within seven of the Bears. Hiser put the game on ice for Northern Colorado with her final three of the night at 2:03 mark.

UNC returns home for its final two home games of the year, hosting Montana State and Montana next Wednesday and Friday. The Bears will still be playing for a chance at the No. 7 seed after Sacramento State lost to North Dakota on Saturday.

"We are looking forward to coming home and play against two teams that are above us and two teams we think we can match up well against. It will be important to have some good momentum going into Reno the next week and we hope to have some great fan support next Wednesday and Friday for the whole team, especially our seniors."