Three Pointers And Balanced Offense Lead @UNCBearsWBB Over Montana State

Wednesday, March 2

Greeley, Colo.

7:00 pm

University of Northern Colorado

13-14 (8-9BSC)

Montana State

21-7 (14-3BSC)

Team	1	2	3	4	F
Montana State	17	14	21	21	73
Northern Colorado	19	17	14	30	80

Photo by: Dean Popejoy

3/2/2016 10:58:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Northern Colorado women's basketball used gritty play and balanced offense to defeat BIg Sky leading Montana State

By: Ryan Pfeifer, UNCBears.com

GREELEY, Colo. – A barrage of 3-pointers, good ball movement, balanced offense and gritty play from Northern Colorado (13-14, 8-9 Big Sky) women's basketball team helped them towards an 80-73 win over Big Sky leading Montana State (21-7, 14-3 Big Sky) Wednesday night inside Bank of Colorado Arena.

"It is a great thing to play with one of the top teams in the way we did tonight," head coach Kamie Ethridge said. "I think we have shown we can do that throughout the year, but we were able to finish it off tonight."

UNC made 13 threes in the game, including a season-high tying for a half, nine in the first.

"I was super proud of the way we played team ball and we were moving the ball well on offense," Kyleigh Hiser said of the team's performance. "People were getting open shots and we were knocking them down and opening it up for even more people. To beat a top team in the conference at this point in the season, that is where you want to be."

Northern Colorado came out hot from behind the arc, with all six of their field goals coming from there as UNC led MSU 19-17 after one quarter of play.

Kyleigh Hiser and Kourteney Zadina each hit two threes during the quarter on their way to combine for nine by the game's end.

The duo were two of five Northern Colorado players to finish in double figures scoring. Zadina finished as the team leader with 20 points, while Hiser had 18.

The other three players to finish with 10 plus points in the game for the Bears were Kianna Williams (12), Savannah Scott (10) and Rebecca Howell (10).

"I am proud of the way our team is coming together,' Hiser said. "We are starting to click on offense and really moving the ball around and our team is showing what they are capable of."

UNC's first 2-point basket came at the 9:28 mark in the second quarter from Courtney Smith. During the quarter the teams traded the lead four times, with UNC closing out on an 8-0 run to be up 36-31 at the half. UNC made 12 baskets in the first half, with an assist on all 12.

On the night, Northern Colorado finished with 22 assists on 27 made baskets, with this being the third straight game that UNC had at least 20 assists.

"It's so nice to walk out on the floor and be able to run your stuff and have 22 assists on 27 field goals. That shows to me we are sharing and moving the ball. I thought the quality of looks we got tonight were really good."

The Bears extended its lead to 10 by the 5:42 mark of the third quarter, before Montana State made a comeback and took the lead on a 14-4 MSU run to end the quarter.

During the final quarter of play, UNC trailed by five early on, but battled back to tie it by the middle of it. The teams again traded baskets until a quick 5-0 Savanah Smith run in the span of a few seconds made it a seven point Northern Colorado advantage.

The Bears held on to its lead with some key offensive rebounds on three straight positions, all leading to points for the team.

UNC finished the game with 12 offensive rebounds, leading to 15 second chance points.

"Those late offensive rebounds forced them to foul and I think it is amazing that we were able to get 12 against this team. To see us both outrebounding them and playing physical tonight was important since we have struggled with that during the year."

Northern Colorado will look to continue the momentum on Friday night when they host Montana for senior night. UNC's four seniors in Hiser, Howell, Shelby Dougherty and Jamie Derrieux will be honored before the game.The Griz are coming of a 73-61 loss at North Dakota Wednesday night.

With other results around the league, UNC has locked up the No. 8 seed for next week's conference tournament in Reno. The Bears already know their opponent as well. The team will face Idaho State.