@UNCBearsWBB concludes regular season at Northern Arizona

The 2018-19 regular season concludes on Saturday afternoon when Northern Colorado women's basketball visits Northern Arizona. The Bears and Lumberjacks square off at 2 pm with UNC still having a shot at a Big Sky title. UNC needs to beat NAU and then get help from Idaho State against Idaho to claim a part of the Big Sky Regular Season championship and earn the top seed in next week's Big Sky Tournament in Boise.

Opening Tip
• Northern Colorado closed out its home portion of the 2018-19 schedule with a 88-71 win over Southern Utah on Thursday night.
• UNC's seniors Savannah Smith and Shalise Fernander combined for 42 of the team's points in their final home game.
• Smith led the Bears in scoring (28), assists (8) and steals (5). In the game, she became the program's leader for points in a single season passing Stephanie Lee's record, now sitting at 621.
• Ali Meyer became the program's record holder for rebounds in a single season on Thursday night passing D'shara Strange. She now has 317 for the year.
• Northern Arizona is coming off a big weekend sweeping the Montana schools at home.
• NAU can be anywhere from the 7-9 seed in next week's Big Sky Tournament.
• The Lumberjacks have won five of their last eight games, with three of the wins coming at home.

Last Time Out
UNC had its best offensive performance of the season against Southern Utah scoring a season-high 88 points and shooting a season-best 58.1 percent. Four Bears scored in double figures and all seven that played had at least one basket in the 88-71 victory.

Scouting the Lumberjacks
After getting close, but not being able to break through Northern Arizona has been able to pick up some wins during the second half of the Big Sky season. NAU is winners of five of their last eight including a big 2-0 past weekend against the Montana schools.

The Jacks have a quartet of players averaging double-figures scoring led by Kaleigh Paplow and her 13.7 ppg. She does it all for the team, also leading them in rebounds (7.5), assists (3.4), steals (1.9). The three other NAU players averaging double digits scoring are Khiarica Rasheed (12.4), Jacey Bailey (11.3) and Lauren Orndoff (10.1).

Defense can be a struggle at times for NAU as opponents are shooting 42.2 percent against them, including 33.2 percent from behind the arc. The Lumberjacks have bee outscored by their opponents 72.6 to 67.5

History against Northern Arizona
Northern Colorado has had lots of success against Northern Arizona, going 21-5 overall. The Bears have put together win streaks of nine, five, four and three together against NAU including a current one of five. UNC is 10-2 when playing in Flagstaff.

Against the Big Sky
UNC joined the Big Sky in the 2006-07 season and has gone 130-96. Overall, the team is 143-102 against Big Sky schools.

Around the Big Sky
Northern Colorado clinched no worse than the 2-seed in next week's Big Sky Tournament with the win and Portland State loss on Thursday. Idaho clinched at least a share of the Big Sky Regular Season title on Thursday with their comeback win over Weber State.

If Northern Colorado wins on Saturday at Northern Arizona and Idaho State defeats Idaho, the Bears will clinch a share of the Big Sky title and the top seed in the Big Sky Tournament.

On This Date
UNC has played on the ninth of March only two other times, winning both games. Both instances came in the Big Sky Tournament. The first in 2012 defeating Montana State and the other last year in the semifinals defeating Idaho State 73-66.

20 Win season
Northern Colorado secured its its third consecutive 20-win season on March 7, the best stretch in program history. UNC has put together six 20-plus win seasons.

What's Ahead?
Northern Colorado is locked into one of the top two seeds in next week's Big Sky Tournament. A win on Saturday and loss by Idaho will give the Bears the top seed, while a loss or UI win puts UNC in the two spot. The bracket will be announced by the Big Sky Conference on Saturday night following the conclusion of all the games.

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

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Shalise Fernander

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