University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Thursday, December 2
Bozeman, Mont.
7 p.m. MT
University of Northern Colorado
at
Montana State
Photo by: Dean Popejoy
Women's Basketball ready for Big Sky action heading to Montana State and Montana
12/1/2021 3:24:00 PM | Women's Basketball
GREELEY, Colo. – Early December brings a taste of conference basketball as Northern Colorado takes a trip to Big Sky Country to face both Montana State and Montana.
Game Info
Who: at Montana State (2-4, 0-0-) | at Montana (5-1, 0-0)
When: Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. MT | Dec. 4 at 2 p.m. MT
Where: Bozeman, MT | Missoula, MT
How To Follow: LIVE STREAM | LIVE STATS | UNC_BearsWBB
Opening Tip
Pueblo, Colorado native Hannah Simental has shown she is a force to be reckoned with this season. Recording her first career 20-point game against Samford, Simental led the Bears to its second home win of the season.
Simental's sharp-shooting prowess is back in full form. Through five games, she ranks near the top 100 in the country in made three's per game (2.2) and three-point percentage (39.3).
Kurstyn Harden has scored in double figures in each of the last two games for head coach Kristen Mattio. Harden matched her previous career-best with 11 points against San Francisco. Days later, the Lufkin native reset her personal best with 12 against Samford.
Mattio's defense has started to hit a new level in the last couple of games for Northern Colorado. Twice in the last three games, the Bears have held their opponent under 60 points and at 8.4 steals per game, UNC ranks second in the Big Sky Conference.
Last Time Out
Northern Colorado kept its home record clean with a 64-49 win over Samford. Sophomores Hannah Simental and Kurstyn Harden each tallied career-highs as Simental led all scorers with 20 points. UNC's bench outscored the Bulldogs 26-8.
Scouting the Bobcats
Head coach Tricia Binford enters her 17th season at the helm of the Montana State Women's Basketball program. The Bobcats were picked to finish second in both the coaches and media polls this preseason and junior Darian White, the 2020-21 Defensive Player of the Year, was named to the All-Big Sky Preseason Team.
MSU has faced a difficult non-conference schedule thus far with games against two mid-major top-25 programs in Gonzaga and South Dakota State.
With White in the backcourt, it's not a surprise the Bobcats rank second in the conference in steals. White herself is No. 25 in the nation at 19 this season.
History against Montana State
UNC and Montana State split both games in Bozeman last season. All-time, the Bears own a 15-14 record against the Bobcats and will be looking to inch closer to an even record in Bozeman (6-8).
Scouting the Griz
Brian Holsinger is off to a roaring start in his first year with the Montana Women's Basketball program. This fall in non-conference action, the Griz have knocked off both the North Dakota's (Fighting Hawks and Bison) in recent weeks and also boast two wins in the Grand Canyon Classic.
Junior forward Carmen Gfeller has already picked up a Big Sky Player of the Week honor after averaging a double-double in Montana's wins over UND and NDSU.
Along with Gfeller (14.5 ppg), the Griz are led by senior Sammy Fatkin who after sitting out last season is averaging 14.8 points per contest in the early parts of 2021.
History against Montana
Northern Colorado also split with the Griz last season with its win coming in a thrilling 77-76 affair. The Bears are 13-18 against Montana dating back to 2007 with a 6-9 record in Missoula.
What's Ahead?
After a quick stop in Omaha, the Bears return to Greeley on December 13 against Oklahoma Panhandle. Tickets can be purchased at UNCBears.com/Tickets.
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.
Game Info
Who: at Montana State (2-4, 0-0-) | at Montana (5-1, 0-0)
When: Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. MT | Dec. 4 at 2 p.m. MT
Where: Bozeman, MT | Missoula, MT
How To Follow: LIVE STREAM | LIVE STATS | UNC_BearsWBB
Opening Tip
Pueblo, Colorado native Hannah Simental has shown she is a force to be reckoned with this season. Recording her first career 20-point game against Samford, Simental led the Bears to its second home win of the season.
Simental's sharp-shooting prowess is back in full form. Through five games, she ranks near the top 100 in the country in made three's per game (2.2) and three-point percentage (39.3).
Kurstyn Harden has scored in double figures in each of the last two games for head coach Kristen Mattio. Harden matched her previous career-best with 11 points against San Francisco. Days later, the Lufkin native reset her personal best with 12 against Samford.
Mattio's defense has started to hit a new level in the last couple of games for Northern Colorado. Twice in the last three games, the Bears have held their opponent under 60 points and at 8.4 steals per game, UNC ranks second in the Big Sky Conference.
Last Time Out
Northern Colorado kept its home record clean with a 64-49 win over Samford. Sophomores Hannah Simental and Kurstyn Harden each tallied career-highs as Simental led all scorers with 20 points. UNC's bench outscored the Bulldogs 26-8.
Scouting the Bobcats
Head coach Tricia Binford enters her 17th season at the helm of the Montana State Women's Basketball program. The Bobcats were picked to finish second in both the coaches and media polls this preseason and junior Darian White, the 2020-21 Defensive Player of the Year, was named to the All-Big Sky Preseason Team.
MSU has faced a difficult non-conference schedule thus far with games against two mid-major top-25 programs in Gonzaga and South Dakota State.
With White in the backcourt, it's not a surprise the Bobcats rank second in the conference in steals. White herself is No. 25 in the nation at 19 this season.
History against Montana State
UNC and Montana State split both games in Bozeman last season. All-time, the Bears own a 15-14 record against the Bobcats and will be looking to inch closer to an even record in Bozeman (6-8).
Scouting the Griz
Brian Holsinger is off to a roaring start in his first year with the Montana Women's Basketball program. This fall in non-conference action, the Griz have knocked off both the North Dakota's (Fighting Hawks and Bison) in recent weeks and also boast two wins in the Grand Canyon Classic.
Junior forward Carmen Gfeller has already picked up a Big Sky Player of the Week honor after averaging a double-double in Montana's wins over UND and NDSU.
Along with Gfeller (14.5 ppg), the Griz are led by senior Sammy Fatkin who after sitting out last season is averaging 14.8 points per contest in the early parts of 2021.
History against Montana
Northern Colorado also split with the Griz last season with its win coming in a thrilling 77-76 affair. The Bears are 13-18 against Montana dating back to 2007 with a 6-9 record in Missoula.
What's Ahead?
After a quick stop in Omaha, the Bears return to Greeley on December 13 against Oklahoma Panhandle. Tickets can be purchased at UNCBears.com/Tickets.
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.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Basketball
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