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@UNCBearsWBB Offense Struggles Against North Dakota
2/4/2017 4:14:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Northern Colorado's offense shoots just 25.0 percent in loss to North Dakota Saturday
GREELEY, Colo. – Northern Colorado's offense struggled as they fell to North Dakota Saturday afternoon 57-51 inside Bank of Colorado Arena. Neither team shot well in the game, UND shooting 29.0 percent and UNC 25.0 for the game.
How It Happened
North Dakota came out on a 9-1 run, holding UNC without a field goal until the 3:30 mark of the first quarter on a Katie Longwell fast break layup. It was the lone field goal of the quarter for the Bears as they trailed 14-4.
UNC worked its way back into the game during the second quarter with a couple of runs. The first was of the 9-3 variety over four minutes to cut the Fighting Hawk lead to three. Northern Colorado, then went on a 5-0 run to end the half and entered the break down one, 26-25.
Similar to the first quarter, North Dakota used an 11-0 rally, with UNC struggling offensively, to build its lead to double figures. UND kept its lead in double figures through the remainder of the quarter, entering the fourth up 45-34.
Northern Colorado chipped away at the Fighting Hawks lead in the fourth, getting it to single digits by the midway point. Then Savannah Smith hit a pair of deep threes to get the Bears within four at 50-46 with 3:10 remaining in the game.
Both defenses stepped up down the stretch, but the Bears were unable to get any closer than four as UND secured the victory at the free throw line.
Game Changer
The beginning of the first and third quarter played big differences in the outcome of the game. Northern Colorado's offense struggled during both, allowing a pair of big UND runs. It was a 9-1 run to start the game and 11-0 run in the third for the Fighting Hawks.
Notables
- Despite the loss, Savannah Smith kept her streak of 20-point scoring games going. She had her fifth straight game with 20 or more points leading all players in the game with 22. She added in six rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a steal.
- With neither team shooting well, it was rebounds galore. UND out-rebounded the Bears 58-53. The 53 rebounds is the most this season by the team, and tied for third most in the school's history.
- Center, Courtney Smith recorded her third career double-double in the game. She had 10 points and 10 rebounds.
- With the result of the game, Northern Colorado and North Dakota are tied for first place in the Big Sky.
Quotable
Head Coach Kamie Ethridge
Overall Thoughts on the Game
"We are a fineness team that likes to move the ball and cut and make it look pretty. That wasn't what today's game was, it was a physical game and you have to give Travis (Brewster) credit, he is a smart and wise coach that mucked up the game. They made it hard to cut and got out on our shooters and it showed in our shooting numbers."
About offensive struggles
"Savannah Smith did a good job getting in the game and finding a way to score for the team even with the physicality of it. Our offense overall didn't take advantage of what they were giving us. We had not seen this kind of defense and this will give us the ability to learn from it and improve."
Junior Guard Savannah Scott
About physicality of the game
"We just were not prepared for them and the defense they brought at us and the physicality of the game. They have big bodies that are tough to prepare for when you don't have those types of bodies to practice against."
UNC starts a stretch of five of its final seven games of the season being on the road. The team heads to the Pacific Northwest next week starting at Idaho Thursday night at 7 pm.
