University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Wednesday, December 16
Pocatello, ID
5 p.m. MT
University of Northern Colorado
1-5,0-2Big Sky
50
at
63
Idaho State University
4-1,2-0Big Sky
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Colo. | 12 | 13 | 9 | 16 | 50 |
| Idaho St. | 15 | 11 | 14 | 23 | 63 |
Shorthanded Bears' gritty effort not enough to get past ISU
12/16/2020 8:10:00 PM | Women's Basketball
POCATELLO, Idaho – With only seven available players for Northern Colorado, head coach Jenny Huth's squad put in another valiant effort against Idaho State Wednesday evening. However, the Bears weren't able to keep pace in the game's final minutes, giving ISU the win, 63-50.
The early moments of the second Big Sky matchup of the season for both teams were scrappy at each end. Turnovers highlighted a nervous start for each team but after a couple of quick buckets from the Bengals, it was freshman Olivia Wikstrom and sophomore Mele Finau who would summon a pair of scoring efforts to keep the Bears within arm's reach at the first break, 15-12.
Finau splashed in a duo of three-pointers en route to a career-high 10 points and snatched six rebounds, one shy of her career-best (7).
Wikstrom, who earned the first start of her young UNC career on Wednesday, showed she wasn't afraid of the spotlight. The Washington native's night finished with 10 points, four rebounds and three steals in 31 minutes.
Idaho State began the second stanza with a strong start, extending its lead to as many as 10. It was at that moment, Alisha Davis began to establish herself in the paint and the contest.
Davis hit her first field goal of the game in the second quarter and it brought her team within six points. By the end of the half, UNC trailed by a single point, 26-25.
Once again the Bengals charged out of the starting blocks to open the third quarter. However, Northern Colorado's toughness and willingness to respond to adversity shown through once more.
Alisha Davis spent a large portion of her night at the charity stripe. Nine of her 15 points came at the line. She also finished with eight rebounds, two assists, one steal and a block.
Gritty efforts up and down the roster highlighted most of the second half, keeping UNC in the game.
Ultimately, Idaho State willed in timely baskets and was a solid 10-12 at the free-throw line down the stretch to see the game out, 63-50.
Postgame Thoughts
Jenny Huth, Head Coach
"We played hard in both games here and i'm proud of the many small victories that didn't show up on the stat sheet. We did a much better job defending the three-point line tonight and rebounded well. We had the game close in the first half and I thought we had an opportunity to carry that into the second. We came out a bit flat and that's something I have to do a better job with.
"Our players had to play a lot of minutes and proved they can. We talk a lot in our program about how adversity is an opportunity. As the head coach of our team, I can tell they understand that opportunity, based on the focus and effort I've seen. We have a lot of room for improvement but I can see some bright spots in these young women!"
Game Notes
Northern Colorado will head home to Greeley where they'll meet Wyoming on Saturday, December 20, for a game slated for 1 p.m. MT.
To stay up to date on all things UNC Women's basketball, visit UNCBears.com, follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the new UNC Athletics app by clicking here.
The early moments of the second Big Sky matchup of the season for both teams were scrappy at each end. Turnovers highlighted a nervous start for each team but after a couple of quick buckets from the Bengals, it was freshman Olivia Wikstrom and sophomore Mele Finau who would summon a pair of scoring efforts to keep the Bears within arm's reach at the first break, 15-12.
1Q | @Olivianwikstrom for three and the game is tied at 6!#BearsStrong #BigSkyWBB pic.twitter.com/q6LRQgJlaP
— UNC Bears WBB (@UNC_BearsWBB) December 17, 2020
Finau splashed in a duo of three-pointers en route to a career-high 10 points and snatched six rebounds, one shy of her career-best (7).
1Q | @melfinau from downtown and UNC leads!#BearsStrong #BigSkyWBB pic.twitter.com/nm2OqXxNFx
— UNC Bears WBB (@UNC_BearsWBB) December 17, 2020
Wikstrom, who earned the first start of her young UNC career on Wednesday, showed she wasn't afraid of the spotlight. The Washington native's night finished with 10 points, four rebounds and three steals in 31 minutes.
Idaho State began the second stanza with a strong start, extending its lead to as many as 10. It was at that moment, Alisha Davis began to establish herself in the paint and the contest.
Davis hit her first field goal of the game in the second quarter and it brought her team within six points. By the end of the half, UNC trailed by a single point, 26-25.
2Q | @alishaaa_5 is heating up 🔥🔥🔥#BearsStrong #BigSkyWBB pic.twitter.com/VqYoaP47jH
— UNC Bears WBB (@UNC_BearsWBB) December 17, 2020
Once again the Bengals charged out of the starting blocks to open the third quarter. However, Northern Colorado's toughness and willingness to respond to adversity shown through once more.
Alisha Davis spent a large portion of her night at the charity stripe. Nine of her 15 points came at the line. She also finished with eight rebounds, two assists, one steal and a block.
Gritty efforts up and down the roster highlighted most of the second half, keeping UNC in the game.
4Q | Count it! @aleciawhyte21 #BearsStrong #BigSkyWBB pic.twitter.com/VGjd1ME84c
— UNC Bears WBB (@UNC_BearsWBB) December 17, 2020
Ultimately, Idaho State willed in timely baskets and was a solid 10-12 at the free-throw line down the stretch to see the game out, 63-50.
Postgame Thoughts
Jenny Huth, Head Coach
"We played hard in both games here and i'm proud of the many small victories that didn't show up on the stat sheet. We did a much better job defending the three-point line tonight and rebounded well. We had the game close in the first half and I thought we had an opportunity to carry that into the second. We came out a bit flat and that's something I have to do a better job with.
"Our players had to play a lot of minutes and proved they can. We talk a lot in our program about how adversity is an opportunity. As the head coach of our team, I can tell they understand that opportunity, based on the focus and effort I've seen. We have a lot of room for improvement but I can see some bright spots in these young women!"
Game Notes
- Olivia Wikstrom was tabbed for the first start of her UNC career.
- Alisha Davis landed in double figures for the fifth time this season and the 25th time in her career.
- Sophomore Mele Finau tallied a career-high 10 points.
- Northern Colorado outrebounded Idaho State, 39-36, marking the fourth time in six games the Bears have been able to clean the glass against its opponent.
- UNC forced a season-high 17 turnovers against the Bengals.
Northern Colorado will head home to Greeley where they'll meet Wyoming on Saturday, December 20, for a game slated for 1 p.m. MT.
To stay up to date on all things UNC Women's basketball, visit UNCBears.com, follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the new UNC Athletics app by clicking here.
Team Stats
UNC
ISU
FG%
.294
.407
3FG%
.333
.357
FT%
.696
.833
RB
39
36
TO
20
17
STL
8
12
Game Leaders
Pts
15
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
9
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballUNC Weekly Press Conference - Kristen Mattio (Mar 24)
Tuesday, March 24
Kristen Mattio and Tatum West WNIT Press Conference vs Air Force
Friday, March 20
UNC Weekly Press Conference - Kristen Mattio (Mar 17)
Tuesday, March 17
UNC Weekly Press Conference - Kristen Mattio (Mar 3)
Tuesday, March 03
