Recap: @UNCBearsWBB Earns Comeback Win, Clinches Share of Big Sky Title

Saturday, February 24

Greeley, Colo

2pm

University of Northern Colorado

21-6, 13-3BSC

North Dakota

12-15, 5-11BSC

North Dakota

Northern Colorado

Photo by: Rob Trubia

2/24/2018 6:03:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Northern Colorado women's basketball earned a 51-45 comeback win over North Dakota Saturday and clinched at least a tie of the Big Sky title

By: By Ryan Pfeifer, UNCBears.com

GREELEY, Colo. – Northern Colorado women's basketball overcame a sluggish first half to earn a 51-45 win over North Dakota Saturday afternoon. The Bears (21-6, 13-3 Big Sky) clinched a bye and top two seed in the Big Sky Conference Tournament in Reno next month. UNC also clinched at least a share of the Big Sky regular season title with Idaho falling to Weber State today, 105-88.

(2/24/2018) WBB vs UND

UNC shot just 20.7percent in the first half but used a 27 point, 8-of-12 shooting, third quarter to go from down 10 at the half to up by seven heading to the fourth. Savannah Smith scored 13 of the team's 27 points in the quarter.

The Bears played the second quarter without Smith, as she picked up her second foul of the game inside the final minute of the first quarter. UNC trailed 14-10 after the first, and the offense struggled without Smith or Savannah Scott on the floor. UND held Northern Colorado to six points and led 26-16 at the break.

North Dakota and Northern Colorado traded baskets throughout the beginning of the second half, but then UNC went on an 18-2 run over the final 4:19 of the quarter to take the lead and never look back. Tiarna Clarke rained in a 3-pointer to begin the run as the team hit four 3s during it. Savannah Smith, Krystal Leger-Walker and Kianna Williams all drained a three during the run. Smith scored half of the team's points during the run that brought the 1,232 fans inside Bank of Colorado Arena to their feet.

With momentum on its side and a 43-36 lead heading into the fourth, Northern Colorado did a good job of managing the lead and didn't allow UND any closer than four points late in the game on the way to the win.

In Their Words
Head coach Kamie Ethridge

Overall thoughts on the game
"Kianna Williams and Krystal Leger-Walker played hard in the first half, but when you take two players like Savannah Smith and Savannah Scott off the court it is going to be a challenge. We played against a seasoned team that has a good defensive scheme and challenged us. Both Krystal and Kianna had good open shots, but they just did not fall. It was great to see the team battle through the situation which we hope not to be in very often."

Redshirt junior guard Savannah Smith

On her mindset in the second half
"I was determined to get the ball in the basket for us. I knew we needed an easy basket, so I just played with that mentality"

Senior guard Kianna Williams

The team's mentality heading into halftime
"We were frustrated with our first half performance, but we came out of the locker room at half with a good attitude and it helped us earn the win.

Game Changer "
The impact that Savannah Smith has on the game was seen throughout the game Saturday. With her sitting out a good amount of the first half UNC struggled to score and trailed by 10 at the half. As she returned in the second half she led the team in a big third quarter as they earned the comeback win. Smith finished the game with 17 points, all coming in the second half of the game, along with two assists, a steal, a block, and rebound.

Stat to Know
While Northern Colorado's offense struggling, its defense stepped up to slow down UND's offense. The Bears held the Fighting Hawks to 34.8 percent shooting and turned them over 21 times.

Game Notes
- UNC finished the game with three players in double figures scoring, Smith (17), Kianna Williams (13) and Krystal Leger-Walker (10).
- Williams, stuffed the stat sheet with her 13 points, six rebounds, three steals, two blocks and a steal while playing all 40 minutes.
- The Bears held UND to 22.7 percent shooting in the second half.
- With a win on Wednesday against Sacramento State, Northern can clinch its first outright Big Sky regular season championship.

What's Ahead?
Northern Colorado goes into the final week of the regular season a win away from winning the Big Sky title outright. The Bears first crack at it on Wednesday when Portland State comes to town. Tipoff is set for 7 pm MT.

Tickets for the game and all UNC women's basketball games can be purchased at UNCBears.com/Tickets, the UNC Box Office open Monday – Friday, 10 am – 5 pm and by calling 970-351-4849.

To stay up to date on all things UNC women's basketball, visit UNCBears.com and follow the team on Twitter at @UNCBearsWBB.