Defensive execution down the stretch leads @UNCBearsWBB over Eastern Washington

Monday, January 7

Cheney, Wash.

7 pm MT

University of Northern Colorado

9-4 (4-0)

Eastern Washington

2-11 (1-3)

OT 1

Northern Colorado

Eastern Washington

Photo by: Dean Popejoy

1/7/2019 10:03:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

UNC women's basketball remained undefeated in Big Sky play following a gritty, defensive game at EWU

By: By Ryan Pfeifer, UNCBears.com

CHENEY, Wash. – On a night where the offense struggled at times to find the bottom of the net, Northern Colorado women's basketball (9-4, 4-0 Big Sky) dug in defensively to defeat Eastern Washington in overtime 67-62.

The Bears held EWU to 4-of-22 (18.2%) shooting in the fourth quarter and overtime to earn the victory. Northern Colorado kept Eastern Washington without a field goal for seven minutes and 25 seconds in the fourth quarter and again without one over the final 3:44 of the game.

UNC outshot Eastern Washington 39.1 percent to 34.5.

Savannah Smith led all scorers with 25 points to go with seven rebounds, two assists and two steals. When Smith scored her fifth point of the game early on, she became the sixth player in program history to surpass the 1,500 career points mark.

Joining Smith with double figures scoring were Krystal Leger-Walker (17) and Alexis Chapman (12).

Northern Colorado missed its first five field goal attempts of the game but responded by going 7-for-12 the rest of the first quarter to take a 19-16 by the end of it.

A key for EWU in the first half was making 3-pointers, as they connected on seven. UNC started to show its gritty defense to close out the first 20 minutes of play by holding the Eagles scoreless over the final 4:13 of the half but trailed 32-30.

UNC's defense clamped down in the third quarter forcing seven EWU turnovers. Despite the strong defensive efforts, a lid on the Bears basket led to a scoreless drought for 3:57 before Ali Meyer's buzzer-beater to make it a 48-46 EWU headed to the fourth.

Northern Colorado held EWU to 3-of-14 shooting in the fourth quarter, but a layup with 4.1 left by Violet Kapri Morrow sent the game to overtime.

What they said
Head Coach Jenny Huth

Overall thoughts on the game
Eastern Washington played well, they are a really solid team and started out really hot from the 3-point line. Give them credit. We did struggle to score in spurts tonight but I thought we had some really key baskets in overtime from Krystal (Leger-Walker) & Savannah (Smith) was able to get to the rim tonight when her 3 wasn't falling. Bridget and Ali did a great job defensively for us down the stretch rebounding and defending without fouling. Overall, we have a lot to look at and get better from this game including execution, but most importantly we found a way.

Stat to know
After Eastern Washington made seven 3-pointers in the first half, the Bears held EWU to only one in the second.

Game Notes
- Ali Meyer got back to her glass cleaning ways by grabbing 14 rebounds, including five offensive rebounds. She also recorded a career-high four blocks in the game.
- The outside shot wasn't falling for UNC on Monday, but they were able to score in the paint, outscoring the Eagles 36-20.
- Monday night's win extended Northern Colorado's regular season Big Sky game win streak to 14 games.

What's ahead
UNC concludes its three-game road trip on Saturday at Montana. The Bears and Lady Griz square off in Missoula at 2 pm MST.

Northern Colorado returns to Bank of Colorado Arena on January 14 when Montana State visits. Tickets for the game against MSU and all UNC women's basketball games can be purchased by clicking here.

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