University of Northern Colorado Athletics
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@UNCBearsWBB Improves to 5-0 in Big Sky Play Winning Over Montana
1/12/2017 10:28:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Northern Colorado led through most of the game in a 65-46 win over Montana Thursday night
GREELEY, Colo. – Northern Colorado women's basketball team improved to 5-0 in Big Sky play with a 65-46 win over Montana Thursday night. UNC used crisp ball movement in the win with 19 assists on 22 made baskets.
How it Happened
Northern Colorado jumped out to the quick lead in the first with an 8-0 run. The Bears continued to stay hot through the quarter with another run, this one a 7-0 rally to go up 19-9 after the first 10 minutes of play.
In the quarter UNC made six baskets, and had an assist on each of them. Krystal Leger-Walker led the team with three assists in it.
After Savannah Scott led Northern Colorado with eight point in the first, it was the other Savannah, Savannah Smith who took over scoring duties for the team in the second. She hit a pair of 3-pointers, and four from the free throw line to score 10 points.
Montana worked the UNC lead down to single digits with a 4-0 run in the middle of the second. The Bears went back up double digits on one of those S. Smith threes to lead at the half 34-24.
In the second half, it was more of the same, as the Bears improved their lead to 15 thanks to a 6-0 run that held UM scoreless for almost five minutes.
Mandy Karako then went on a 5-0 run of her own near the end of the quarter to put the game away, as the Bears led 50-33 entering the fourth quarter.
In the fourth, the Northern Colorado lead hung around 15 until the team went on a 10-0 run in the span of four minutes to push it to 23 with just under two minutes remaining, securing its sixth straight win.
Game Changer
It's not always about being the person to put the ball through the basket, but being the person that sets up the bucket. On Thursday night, freshman guard, Krystal Leger-Walker had a big night setting up her teammates. She finished the game with a career-high tying eight assists to lead the Bears. She also had four steals and four points in the game.
Notables
- Four UNC players finished the game in double figures. Savannah Scott led the way with 15 points and was joined by Savannah Smith (12), Courtney Smith (10) and Mandy Karako (11).
- This was the fourth time this season Northern Colorado has kept an opponent below 50 points.
- The win makes it a six-game win streak for the Bears, tying for the 10th longest streak in program history. It also marks the seventh straight win at home, tying the eighth longest home win streak.
Quotable
Junior Guard Savannah Scott
On team's offense
"Sometimes one person gets going and we just want to keep feeding them. The offense depends on open reads for us and getting the best shot."
About what can be improved upon.
"We weren't that happy about the way we played defensively. We still need to improve on rebounding even if we are holding a team down shooting, you have to finish out a possession."
Head Coach Kamie Ethridge
On Mandy Karako and the team's unselfishness
"It's nice to have a Mandy Karako that can come off the bench and score the way she does. I told someone she has offense written all over she and we need that, but there is still a lot more to this game. Our team really plays to its strength and are really unselfish which is great to have."
About Improving on Rebounding
"Montana is relentless, they have young players right now and play with a lot of intensity. We can get lazy at times, thinking we made a stop, and then let them get the offensive rebound. It is something that we will have to improve on moving forward."
Starting Conference 5-0
"5-0 is a great place to be. I'm sure North Dakota enjoyed 4-0 coming into tonight, but then met a team that can beat them. That's where we are as well, were not so much better than anyone else and can still be beat."
Previewing Saturday's game
"Montana State is as talented, or more talented and certainly matches up with us. We have to go out and play like we are 0-5 and dying to win. We cannot be satisfied where we are right now, we can look forward to the next game on our schedule that will hopefully help prepare us for end of February and March."
What's Next?
Northern Colorado will take on Montana State at 2 pm on Saturday in a showdown between the No. 1 and 2 teams in the conference standings. The Bobcats won against North Dakota 74-71 in overtime Thursday night.
