University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Saturday, January 4
Missoula, Mont.
2 pm
University of Northern Colorado
6-6,2-1Big Sky
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at
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Montana
8-5,3-1Big Sky
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Northern Colo.
21
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Montana
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Photo by: Tommy Martino
Strong Defense and Balanced Scoring Drive Bears Past Griz
1/4/2020 5:06:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Northern Colorado rebounded from a tough loss on Thursday to split the road trip
MISSOULA, Mont.- The road trip ended well for Northern Colorado women's basketball, as they defeated Montana, 67-58 on Saturday afternoon. All five of UNC's starters scored in double-figures and the team had another strong defensive effort.
"In this conference, you have to be ready at all times," head coach Jenny Huth said. "Even through disappointment, you trust the team to learn and grow. I thought our players remained humble, hungry and didn't dwell on mistakes or misfortune. We had a togetherness and next play mentality that is imperative to becoming who they want to become."
Jasmine Gayles led the Bears with 14 points, going 4-of-6 on field goals and 2-of-2 from three-point range. Alisha Davis and Micayla Isenbart each had 12 points, with Bridget Hintz and Alexis Chapman adding 10 apiece.
"Overall offensively, I urged everyone to be aggressive; to score in all sets and actions. Sometimes it's just that simple," Huth said.
UNC finished with a 42.6 percent shooting percentage and 35.3 percent from behind the arc. The Bears would hold the Griz to a 30.5 percent field goal percentage.
"Defensively, we stayed committed to the game plan for 40 minutes," Huth added. "By no means was it perfect, but we took a positive step."
In the opening quarter, UNC set the pace, shooting 56.3 percent from the floor and built a 21-15 lead over Montana. Hintz led the early charge for the Bears with six points and 3-of-3 shooting.
The game tightened up in the second quarter, as each team scored 16 points. UNC finished with a 38.5 percent shooting percentage and the Griz were close behind with a 37.5 percentage. Isenbart and Gayles each hit a pair of threes, with the two scoring seven and six points in the quarter respectively. The Bears went into the half leading Montana, 37-31.
Neither team was able to score consistently in the third quarter, but UNC's defense held the Griz to a 25 percent shooting percentage. It was Chapman who had the hot hand in the third, scoring seven of her ten points in the quarter on 3-of-6 shooting. Despite the effort, Montana edged the Bears 14-13 in the quarter and UNC had a 50-45 lead heading to the fourth.
In the fourth quarter, UNC's defense again rose to the challenge and limited the Montana to a 29.4 shooting percentage. Isenbart delivered the clutch scoring converting a four-point play to put the Bears up 61-52 with 3:12 left in the game. Montana pulled within four of UNC at 1:39, but Gayles made four straight free-throws to put the game out of reach. Davis added five points in the quarter to compliment UNC's balanced scoring.
Northern Colorado improved to 2-1 in the Big Sky and 6-6 overall with the 67-58 win over Montana.
Game Notes
What's Ahead.
Northern Colorado returns home and hosts Weber State on Thursday, Jan. 9 with tip-off at 7 p.m.(MST).
Tickets for that game and all Northern Colorado women's basketball games can be purchased online at UNCBears.com/Tickets, calling 970-350-4849 or visiting the UNC Ticket Office located inside the Campus Commons.
To stay up to date on all things UNC women's basketball visit UNCBears.com and follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
"In this conference, you have to be ready at all times," head coach Jenny Huth said. "Even through disappointment, you trust the team to learn and grow. I thought our players remained humble, hungry and didn't dwell on mistakes or misfortune. We had a togetherness and next play mentality that is imperative to becoming who they want to become."
Jasmine Gayles led the Bears with 14 points, going 4-of-6 on field goals and 2-of-2 from three-point range. Alisha Davis and Micayla Isenbart each had 12 points, with Bridget Hintz and Alexis Chapman adding 10 apiece.
"Overall offensively, I urged everyone to be aggressive; to score in all sets and actions. Sometimes it's just that simple," Huth said.
UNC finished with a 42.6 percent shooting percentage and 35.3 percent from behind the arc. The Bears would hold the Griz to a 30.5 percent field goal percentage.
"Defensively, we stayed committed to the game plan for 40 minutes," Huth added. "By no means was it perfect, but we took a positive step."
In the opening quarter, UNC set the pace, shooting 56.3 percent from the floor and built a 21-15 lead over Montana. Hintz led the early charge for the Bears with six points and 3-of-3 shooting.
The game tightened up in the second quarter, as each team scored 16 points. UNC finished with a 38.5 percent shooting percentage and the Griz were close behind with a 37.5 percentage. Isenbart and Gayles each hit a pair of threes, with the two scoring seven and six points in the quarter respectively. The Bears went into the half leading Montana, 37-31.
Neither team was able to score consistently in the third quarter, but UNC's defense held the Griz to a 25 percent shooting percentage. It was Chapman who had the hot hand in the third, scoring seven of her ten points in the quarter on 3-of-6 shooting. Despite the effort, Montana edged the Bears 14-13 in the quarter and UNC had a 50-45 lead heading to the fourth.
In the fourth quarter, UNC's defense again rose to the challenge and limited the Montana to a 29.4 shooting percentage. Isenbart delivered the clutch scoring converting a four-point play to put the Bears up 61-52 with 3:12 left in the game. Montana pulled within four of UNC at 1:39, but Gayles made four straight free-throws to put the game out of reach. Davis added five points in the quarter to compliment UNC's balanced scoring.
Northern Colorado improved to 2-1 in the Big Sky and 6-6 overall with the 67-58 win over Montana.
Game Notes
- UNC has now won seven consecutive games against Montana, the longest streak in program history.
- The Bears had a season-high 13 steals, with Alisha Davis leading the team with a career-high, five. Ali Meyer added a season-high, three, against the Griz.
- Jasmine Gayles matched her career-high with six rebounds and a career-best two steals as well.
- UNC controlled the paint with 32 points to Montana's 20. The Bears were narrowly out-rebounded, 40-39.
- Davis drew three fouls on made baskets, converting two of the and-1 opportunities.
- Northern Colorado's starters accounted for 87 percent of the team's scoring.
What's Ahead.
Northern Colorado returns home and hosts Weber State on Thursday, Jan. 9 with tip-off at 7 p.m.(MST).
Tickets for that game and all Northern Colorado women's basketball games can be purchased online at UNCBears.com/Tickets, calling 970-350-4849 or visiting the UNC Ticket Office located inside the Campus Commons.
To stay up to date on all things UNC women's basketball visit UNCBears.com and follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Team Stats
UNC
Mont
FG%
.426
.305
3FG%
.353
.364
FT%
.625
.700
RB
39
40
TO
15
16
STL
13
8
Game Leaders
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
12
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's BasketballG/F
/ Women's Basketball
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