Recap: @UNCBearsWBB Fights Until End, Falls to Michigan in NCAA Tournament

Friday, March 16

Waco, Texas

3 pm

University of Northern Colorado

26-7

Michigan

23-9

Northern Colorado

Michigan

Photo by: Robert Franklin

3/16/2018 7:47:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Northern Colorado women's basketball fought until the end of a 75-61 loss to Michigan Friday afternoon

By: By Ryan Pfeifer, UNCBears.com

WACO, Texas – Northern Colorado women's basketball played in its first Division I NCAA Tournament game Friday afternoon and fell to Michigan 75-61 in the first round of the tournament. The Wolverines length and size slowed down UNC's offense early and led to points on the other end of the floor.

(3/16/2018) WBB NCAA Tournament vs Michigan

The Bears started the game with the lead as Savannah Scott connected on a three to open up the scoring. UNC and UM traded baskets early on before UNC closed the quarter on a two minute and 28 second scoring drought. The Wolverines pushed the lead to 11-8 at that point before closing the quarter out on a 6-0 run to be up 17-8.

Northern Colorado not only struggled shooting, going 25.0 percent from the field but also turned the ball over six times in the quarter.

It was more of the same in the second quarter as Michigan stretched the lead to double figures quickly. By the 4:12 mark UM led by 18 as the Bears were in the middle of a minute and a half scoring skid again. A Scott layup and Savannah Smith three cut the lead to 13 with 3:22, but Michigan closed the half strong leading 36-19. At the break, UNC was being outshot 51.9 percent to 33.3 percent and had turned the ball over 15 times leading to 17 Wolverine points.

After the struggles in the first half, UNC made halftime adjustments and the offense found more flow and open shots in the second half. Scott, scored 11 of her game-high 25 points in the quarter as the team shot 64.3 percent While the Bears offense found its rhythm, the defense struggled to slow down Michigan who shot 72.7 percent in the third to still lead by 17 heading into the fourth.

UM quickly pushed the lead to 21 in the fourth, and kept the lead to at least 15 during the majority of the fourth.

In Their Words
Head Coach Kamie Ethridge

Overall thoughts on the game
Obviously just congratulations to Michigan. I thought they played a great game. Clearly, their size and their length really bothered our team, especially in the first half. I just thought we played really a badly executed game plan maybe or just game based on the fact that we really just couldn't take advantage of mismatches or I think the way they were guarding our on balls, we just didn't handle that we well.

I thought we got some good looks, had some slips to the basket the way they guarded our on balls and we couldn't make the plays because of their length and size. It's something we don't see much in our league. We tend to be able to play small and succeed. You clearly can't do that against a team like Michigan.

I just think that put us behind the eight ball a little bit. 15 turnovers really kind of doomed us. We recovered and did a little bit better in the second half. It was just too much of an uphill climb.

Savannah Scott

It looked like you had some success against the Michigan defense. What did you see they were doing out there?
They were just long, as coach was saying. Just trying to get past their length, any open shot that you could get, trying to take advantage of that.

Game Changer
The duo of Hallie Thome and Katelynn Flaherty are at the top of every opponent's scouting report and they showed why on Friday. They combined for 44 points, nine rebounds, four assists and a steal in the game on 15 makes. Thome, finished the game with six rebounds, five coming on the offensive end.

Stat to Know
Michigan had the advantage inside and they went to that well early and often. The Wolverines scored 46 points in the paint and six on second chances. UM won the rebound game 33-18 and had eight offensive boards.

Game Notes
- Savannah Scott left it all of the court in her final game as a Bear with 25 points, five rebounds, four steals and two assists. She shot 56.3 percent from the field and made all five of her free throws.
- Just like Scott, Kianna Williams left it all on the court leading the team with nine rebounds adding in seven points, three assists, two blocks and two steals.
- Michigan led the points off turnovers battle in the first half 17-3 but then was outscored on turnovers 18-0 in the second half.

What's Ahead
Northern Colorado's season comes to an end with the loss, finishing 26-7. The 26 wins are a program-best, along with putting together a 13-game win streak that was snapped on Friday. It was a year of firsts for the program, including first win over a Top 25 team, first outright Big Sky regular-season title, first Big Sky Tournament title and first NCAA Tournament appearance.

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