University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Saturday, January 26
Greeley, Colo.
2pm
University of Northern Colorado
13-6, 8-2BSC
63
vs
53
Northern Arizona
5-12, 1-7BSC
1
2
3
4
F
Northern Arizona
6
18
17
12
53
Northern Colorado
13
10
26
14
63
Photo by: Dean Popejoy
Savannah Smith's third quarter lifts @UNCBearsWBB past Northern Arizona
1/26/2019 5:16:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Savannah Smith scored 22 points in the third quarter to help UNC past NAU 63-73.
Savannah Smith took over in the third quarter and Northern Colorado women's basketball went on to defeat Northern Arizona 63-53 Saturday afternoon inside Bank of Colorado Arena. The win puts UNC at 8-2 in the Big Sky and 13-6 overall. Along with Idaho's defeat of Portland State today, the Bears are now back in first place in the Big Sky.
Smith went off for 22 of her 30 points in the third quarter, including scoring the team's first 18 points in a span of 4:29. She started the third by making her first eight field goal attempts including going 4-for-4 from behind the arc. By the end of the quarter, Smith was 9-for-11 from the field including 4-of-6 from 3-point range.
Behind Smith's big third quarter, UNC shot 62.5 percent from the field in the 10-minute span after shooting 25.0 percent in the first half.
Northern Colorado held NAU to 3-of-17 shooting and attacked the basket to score 5 of their 13 points from the line in the first quarter to lead 13-6.
Northern Arizona got back into the game as there seemed to be a lid on the Bears basket shooting 4-for-16 in the quarter. NAU went on a 12-2 run to take the lead and held it at 24-23 at the half.
By the end of the Savannah Smith show in the third quarter, UNC led the Lumberjacks 49-41. The lead expanded to 11 early in the fourth, but NAU never gave in, going on a 10-1 run to cut it to two. Over the final 4:46 Northern Colorado held the Lumberjacks scoreless, including a key stretch from 1:51 to 35 seconds when UNC possessed the ball the whole time grabbing three offensive rebounds to put the game away.
What they said
Stat to know
Savannah Smith's 22 points output in the third quarter was more points scored in a quarter than NAU did in any quarter of the game.
Game notes
- The 30 point output by Smith was the fifth of her career and third of the season. She added in three assists, two blocks, two rebounds and two steals.
- Alexis Chapman recorded one of her most complete games of the season scoring 11 points while recording career-highs in rebounds (7), blocks (3) and steals (3).
- Ali Meyer just missed out on her second straight double-double scoring nine points and grabbing nine rebounds. She added in four steals, three assists and two blocks to her stat line.
- Krystal Leger-Walker had another complete game for UNC with nine rebounds, seven points, six rebounds and a steal.
- Northern Colorado blocked a season-best eight shots Saturday.
Around the Big Sky
There was a pair of key games in the Big Sky Saturday as Idaho hosted Portland State and Idaho State hosted Montana State. Both teams from the Potato State came away winners with UI beating PSU 80-78 and ISU taking down MSU 61-43. With the results, Northern Colorado now sits back atop the Big Sky at 8-2 a half-game ahead of Idaho State and a full game ahead of Portland State and Idaho.
What's ahead
Northern Colorado will take over a week off from games as they do not play against until February 4 at Montana State. The Bears and Bobcats will tip-off at 6 pm in Bozeman. UNC is looking to avenge an earlier loss to MSU this season.
The team's next home game is set for Valentine's Day when Eastern Washington comes to the Bank of Colorado Arena. To purchase to that game or any UNC women's basketball game, click here.
To stay up to date on all things UNC women's basketball, visit UNCBears.com and follow the team on Twitter at @UNCBearsWBB.
Smith went off for 22 of her 30 points in the third quarter, including scoring the team's first 18 points in a span of 4:29. She started the third by making her first eight field goal attempts including going 4-for-4 from behind the arc. By the end of the quarter, Smith was 9-for-11 from the field including 4-of-6 from 3-point range.
Behind Smith's big third quarter, UNC shot 62.5 percent from the field in the 10-minute span after shooting 25.0 percent in the first half.
Northern Colorado held NAU to 3-of-17 shooting and attacked the basket to score 5 of their 13 points from the line in the first quarter to lead 13-6.
Northern Arizona got back into the game as there seemed to be a lid on the Bears basket shooting 4-for-16 in the quarter. NAU went on a 12-2 run to take the lead and held it at 24-23 at the half.
By the end of the Savannah Smith show in the third quarter, UNC led the Lumberjacks 49-41. The lead expanded to 11 early in the fourth, but NAU never gave in, going on a 10-1 run to cut it to two. Over the final 4:46 Northern Colorado held the Lumberjacks scoreless, including a key stretch from 1:51 to 35 seconds when UNC possessed the ball the whole time grabbing three offensive rebounds to put the game away.
What they said
Stat to know
Savannah Smith's 22 points output in the third quarter was more points scored in a quarter than NAU did in any quarter of the game.
Game notes
- The 30 point output by Smith was the fifth of her career and third of the season. She added in three assists, two blocks, two rebounds and two steals.
- Alexis Chapman recorded one of her most complete games of the season scoring 11 points while recording career-highs in rebounds (7), blocks (3) and steals (3).
- Ali Meyer just missed out on her second straight double-double scoring nine points and grabbing nine rebounds. She added in four steals, three assists and two blocks to her stat line.
- Krystal Leger-Walker had another complete game for UNC with nine rebounds, seven points, six rebounds and a steal.
- Northern Colorado blocked a season-best eight shots Saturday.
Around the Big Sky
There was a pair of key games in the Big Sky Saturday as Idaho hosted Portland State and Idaho State hosted Montana State. Both teams from the Potato State came away winners with UI beating PSU 80-78 and ISU taking down MSU 61-43. With the results, Northern Colorado now sits back atop the Big Sky at 8-2 a half-game ahead of Idaho State and a full game ahead of Portland State and Idaho.
What's ahead
Northern Colorado will take over a week off from games as they do not play against until February 4 at Montana State. The Bears and Bobcats will tip-off at 6 pm in Bozeman. UNC is looking to avenge an earlier loss to MSU this season.
The team's next home game is set for Valentine's Day when Eastern Washington comes to the Bank of Colorado Arena. To purchase to that game or any UNC women's basketball game, click here.
To stay up to date on all things UNC women's basketball, visit UNCBears.com and follow the team on Twitter at @UNCBearsWBB.
Team Stats
NAU
NC
FG%
.349
.365
3FG%
.250
.250
FT%
.600
.579
RB
42
45
TO
14
12
STL
5
10
Game Leaders
Pts
30
FGM
12
3FGM
4
FTM
2
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G/PG
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