Women's Basketball returns to the Bank to host Southern Utah

Thursday, February 4

Greeley, Colo.

6:30 p.m. MT

University of Northern Colorado

Southern Utah University

2/3/2021 10:33:00 AM | Women's Basketball

GAME NOTES LIVE STATS LIVE STREAM

By: By Thomas Hoffman, UNCBears.com

GREELEY, Colo. – The Bears are back inside the Bank of Colorado Arena for two games against Southern Utah on Thursday and Saturday. UNC has won five of its last seven games and is looking to avenge the two losses the Thunderbird handed them a season ago.

Saturday also marks the Bears' annual "Pink Game" supporting all those affected by breast cancer.

Game Info
Who: Northern Colorado (7-10, 6-6) vs. Southern Utah (7-4, 2-2)
When: February 4 & 6 | 6:30 & Noon MT
Where: Bank of Colorado Arena
How To Follow: PlutoTV Ch. 1059 | Live Stats | UNC_BearsWBB

Opening Tip
The Bears are coming off a split against Northern Arizona. UNC has split four of its six series against Big Sky Conference teams this season.

Southern Utah has played just two series this season. Four of its conference matchups have been canceled due to COVID-19 related issues.

Jasmine Gayles has one of the hottest hand on the team right now. The sophomore guard averaged 21 points against the Lumberjacks over the weekend. Gayles now has three 20-point games in her career, two of them coming this season.

Northern Colorado has had a myriad of success against the Thunderbirds over the years. Before its two losses last season, the Bears had won nine straight against SUU.

All five starters scored in double figures against NAU on Saturday, the first time the Bears have accomplished the feat this season.

Scouting the Thunderbirds
Third-year head coach Tracey Sanders has the Thunderbirds on the right track. Last season, SUU won a total of 18 games, including 11 in the Big Sky, the most in program history since they grabbed a share of the conference regular-season title in 2013-14.

Senior Transfer Liz Graves sits atop the Big Sky scoring race, averaging a whopping 19 points per contest. The 5'10" guard is also right on Alisha Davis' heals in rebounding, pulling down 9.1 per game.

As a team, the Thunderbirds clean the glass like no one else in the Big Sky, boasting a +9.8 rebounding margin.

History against Southern Utah
All-time Northern Colorado is 11-6 versus Southern Utah with a 5-3 mark inside the Bank of Colorado Arena. UNC had won nine straight against the Thunderbirds before dropping its two matchups last season.

Against the Conference
The Bears are 6-6 thus far in a young Big Sky Conference season. Since joining the conference, UNC has 164 wins to just 128 losses.

On This Date
UNC is 15-9 combined on February 4 and 6. Back in 1976, Northern Colorado picked up a win against the Sun Devils of Arizona State, 79-38.

What's Ahead?
The Bears' second split series arrives next week against Sacramento State. Northern Colorado will travel to Sacramento on Thursday, February 11, before returning home on Saturday, February 13.

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.