University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Saturday, February 18
Greeley, Colo.
2:00 pm
University of Northern Colorado
20-6, 12-3BSC
58
vs
68
Idaho State
15-10, 9-5BSC
1
2
3
4
F
Idaho State
20
11
11
26
68
Northern Colorado
12
12
8
26
58
Team Stats
ISU
NC
FG%
.524
.382
3FG%
.625
.292
FT%
.792
.750
RB
41
21
TO
20
11
STL
7
11
Game Leaders
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballPG
/ Women's BasketballC
/ Women's BasketballG/PG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball@UNCBearsWBB Falls to Tough Idaho State Team Saturday
2/18/2017 6:26:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Northern Colorado struggled on both ends of the court in loss to Idaho State
GREELEY – Northern Colorado closed out its home slate in tough fashion Saturday afternoon, falling to Idaho State 68-58. The loss drops the Bears one game behind North Dakota in the Big Sky standings.
How It Happened
Idaho State came out strong, attacking the rim and converting to build a 20-6 lead. In that time, ISU went 8-of-9 from field, and had runs of 6-0 and 7-0.
Despite the early deficit, Northern Colorado never backed down. The Bears closed the first quarter on a 6-0 run, and extended it all the way to 14-0 in the second quarter to even the game at 20. Every made basket during that stretch included an assist by UNC as the ball movement improved.
Idaho State responded to the Bears by turning up the defensive pressure and closing out the half with an11-4 run, putting them up 31-24 at the break.
Both team's struggled to score in the third quarter, Northern Colorado scored on its first offensive possession of the half, but then went a little over six minutes without a point.
While the Bengals were holding UNC scoreless, they had their own struggles offensively, only able to build their lead to nine points. By the time the horn sounded to signal the end of the third, the Bears scored just eight points in it and trailed by 10.
Idaho State gained the early momentum in the fourth with a 10-2 run building its lead to 16 points.
Similar to the first quarter, Northern Colorado wouldn't back down. Kirsten Kramer came off the bench for the team and provided instant offense, scoring five points in back-to-back possessions, and followed up with Kianna Williams' three to get within seven of ISU.
Unfortunately that was as close as the team would get, unable to get the defensive stops needed late and Idaho State hitting their free throws.
Game Changer
It wasn't one person's individual performance that changed the game, but a line on the box score that was huge. That stat was rebounds, Idaho State out rebounded Northern Colorado by a 41-21 mark. With UNC's offense struggling, defensive rebounds were key in slowing down one of the top offenses in the Big Sky.
Notable
- With it being the final home game of the year that meant it was Senior Day. The Bears had one senior on the team in Katie Longwell. She came off the bench and made the constant hustle plays and open shots that fans had become accustom to. Her final stat line read six points on 2-of-4, 3-point shooting with four assists, three steals, two blocks and fourth career block.
- Kianna Williams had her second straight double figures scoring game finishing tied for a team-high 13 points. She was joined by Savannah Smith with 13, while Courtney Smith was the only other Bear in double digits at 10 points.
- The Bears offense was off all day shooting just 38.2 percent for the game and 29.2 percent from 3-point land. Going into the fourth quarter UNC had just one made three, they ended the game with seven.
- Idaho State shot well finishing the game with a 52.4 percent mark from the field.
Quotable
Head Coach Kamie Ethridge
Overall statement about the game
"The Achilles heel from keeping this team being where I believe we can be has been the big, physical teams. They (Idaho State) were determined to take away the Savannahs and made our cuts really hard taking us off rhythm. That was a team that was just more physical than us in every capacity of the game. We need to space the floor more against teams like this and that's my fault. The goal this week will be to keep it simple and play in more space that will help us out. North Dakota is going to play us very similar as Idaho State did today."
On defensive struggles in the game
"We are still a little bit of a young and emotional team. Getting hit the way we were tonight kind of pushed us back today. We just let them have so much momentum early on and put us down and lowered our edge on the defensive end."
Junior Guard Savannah Scott
On offensive struggles today
"They (Idaho State) were wanting to get us off the perimeter, so we ran a lot of back cuts and just didn't execute well enough today."
Redshirt-Sophomore Guard Savannah Smith
About the team not playing well on either side of the court
"We should have played with the energy and passion we had in the fourth quarter the whole game. That was a big part in why we trailed most of the time and ended up losing."
What's Next?
UNC is not on the road for the remaining three regular season games of the season. The road trip begins next Saturday at North Dakota. The Bears will look to avenge a home loss to the Fighting Hawks two weeks ago and tie them in the Big Sky standings. Tip-off between the two is set for 1 pm MT.
How It Happened
Idaho State came out strong, attacking the rim and converting to build a 20-6 lead. In that time, ISU went 8-of-9 from field, and had runs of 6-0 and 7-0.
Despite the early deficit, Northern Colorado never backed down. The Bears closed the first quarter on a 6-0 run, and extended it all the way to 14-0 in the second quarter to even the game at 20. Every made basket during that stretch included an assist by UNC as the ball movement improved.
Idaho State responded to the Bears by turning up the defensive pressure and closing out the half with an11-4 run, putting them up 31-24 at the break.
Both team's struggled to score in the third quarter, Northern Colorado scored on its first offensive possession of the half, but then went a little over six minutes without a point.
While the Bengals were holding UNC scoreless, they had their own struggles offensively, only able to build their lead to nine points. By the time the horn sounded to signal the end of the third, the Bears scored just eight points in it and trailed by 10.
Idaho State gained the early momentum in the fourth with a 10-2 run building its lead to 16 points.
Similar to the first quarter, Northern Colorado wouldn't back down. Kirsten Kramer came off the bench for the team and provided instant offense, scoring five points in back-to-back possessions, and followed up with Kianna Williams' three to get within seven of ISU.
Unfortunately that was as close as the team would get, unable to get the defensive stops needed late and Idaho State hitting their free throws.
Game Changer
It wasn't one person's individual performance that changed the game, but a line on the box score that was huge. That stat was rebounds, Idaho State out rebounded Northern Colorado by a 41-21 mark. With UNC's offense struggling, defensive rebounds were key in slowing down one of the top offenses in the Big Sky.
Notable
- With it being the final home game of the year that meant it was Senior Day. The Bears had one senior on the team in Katie Longwell. She came off the bench and made the constant hustle plays and open shots that fans had become accustom to. Her final stat line read six points on 2-of-4, 3-point shooting with four assists, three steals, two blocks and fourth career block.
- Kianna Williams had her second straight double figures scoring game finishing tied for a team-high 13 points. She was joined by Savannah Smith with 13, while Courtney Smith was the only other Bear in double digits at 10 points.
- The Bears offense was off all day shooting just 38.2 percent for the game and 29.2 percent from 3-point land. Going into the fourth quarter UNC had just one made three, they ended the game with seven.
- Idaho State shot well finishing the game with a 52.4 percent mark from the field.
Quotable
Head Coach Kamie Ethridge
Overall statement about the game
"The Achilles heel from keeping this team being where I believe we can be has been the big, physical teams. They (Idaho State) were determined to take away the Savannahs and made our cuts really hard taking us off rhythm. That was a team that was just more physical than us in every capacity of the game. We need to space the floor more against teams like this and that's my fault. The goal this week will be to keep it simple and play in more space that will help us out. North Dakota is going to play us very similar as Idaho State did today."
On defensive struggles in the game
"We are still a little bit of a young and emotional team. Getting hit the way we were tonight kind of pushed us back today. We just let them have so much momentum early on and put us down and lowered our edge on the defensive end."
Junior Guard Savannah Scott
On offensive struggles today
"They (Idaho State) were wanting to get us off the perimeter, so we ran a lot of back cuts and just didn't execute well enough today."
Redshirt-Sophomore Guard Savannah Smith
About the team not playing well on either side of the court
"We should have played with the energy and passion we had in the fourth quarter the whole game. That was a big part in why we trailed most of the time and ended up losing."
What's Next?
UNC is not on the road for the remaining three regular season games of the season. The road trip begins next Saturday at North Dakota. The Bears will look to avenge a home loss to the Fighting Hawks two weeks ago and tie them in the Big Sky standings. Tip-off between the two is set for 1 pm MT.
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