University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Tuesday, March 9
Boise, ID
2 p.m. MT
University of Northern Colorado
vs
Southern Utah University
Photo by: Leilani Herrera
Women's Basketball begins Big Sky Tourney with Southern Utah
3/8/2021 2:41:00 PM | Women's Basketball
GREELEY, Colo. – Tournament time is finally here! Northern Colorado Women's Basketball arrives in Boise, Idaho as the fourth-seed of this year's tournament and has its sights squarely on a matchup with Southern Utah.
Game Info
Who: Northern Colorado (13-11, 12-7) vs. Southern Utah (11-8, 6-5)
When: March 9 | 2 p.m. MT
Where: Boise, Idaho | Idaho Central Arena
How To Follow: PlutoTV Ch. 1050 | Live Stats | UNC_BearsWBB
Opening Tip
Tuesday marks the third time Northern Colorado and Southern Utah have met in the Big Sky Tournament. UNC took the victory in both neutral-site matchups, winning in 2013 in Missoula, 67-56, and in 2019 in Boise, 82-50.
Saturday afternoon, Alisha Davis was named Big Sky MVP. She was the first Bear to be named conference MVP since Savannah Smith took the honor in 2018.
UNC's six-game win streak is the longest in head coach Jenny Huth's career at UNC and is the longest since the Bears won 13 in a row during the 2017-18 season.
Northern Colorado has been lethal from beyond the three-point line this season. As a team, the Bears lead the conference, shooting 37.4 percent.
Coach Huth's bench has been dynamic for UNC, combining for double figures in seven of the last eight games for the Bears.
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 second in scoring in the conference behind Alisha Davis, averaging a whopping 16.9 points per contest. The 5'10" guard was also right on Alisha Davis' heels in rebounding, pulling down 9.2 per game.
As a team, the Thunderbirds clean the glass like no one else in the Big Sky, boasting a +9.6 rebounding margin.
History against Southern Utah
All-time Northern Colorado is 11-7 versus Southern Utah with a 2-0 mark in neutral territory. UNC had won nine straight against the Thunderbirds before dropping its
last three.
Southern Utah got the best of UNC in its only matchup of the year back on February 4. Alisha Davis tallied 13 points and 10 rebounds but it wasn't enough as the Thunderbirds took the victory, 70-63.
The second matchup scheduled between the two schools was canceled due to COVID-19 protocols.
Against the Conference
The Bears are 12-7 thus far in Big Sky Conference play. Since joining the conference, UNC has 170 wins to just 129 losses.
On This Date
Northern Colorado has played two Big Sky Tournament games on March 9, winning both. UNC beat Montana State, 51-43, in 2012 and Idaho State, 73-66, in 2018.
What's Ahead?
Should the Bears prevail against the Thunderbirds, they'll await the winner of Idaho State and Portland State. That semifinal is scheduled for 6 p.m. MT on Wednesday.
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: Northern Colorado (13-11, 12-7) vs. Southern Utah (11-8, 6-5)
When: March 9 | 2 p.m. MT
Where: Boise, Idaho | Idaho Central Arena
How To Follow: PlutoTV Ch. 1050 | Live Stats | UNC_BearsWBB
Opening Tip
Tuesday marks the third time Northern Colorado and Southern Utah have met in the Big Sky Tournament. UNC took the victory in both neutral-site matchups, winning in 2013 in Missoula, 67-56, and in 2019 in Boise, 82-50.
Saturday afternoon, Alisha Davis was named Big Sky MVP. She was the first Bear to be named conference MVP since Savannah Smith took the honor in 2018.
UNC's six-game win streak is the longest in head coach Jenny Huth's career at UNC and is the longest since the Bears won 13 in a row during the 2017-18 season.
Northern Colorado has been lethal from beyond the three-point line this season. As a team, the Bears lead the conference, shooting 37.4 percent.
Coach Huth's bench has been dynamic for UNC, combining for double figures in seven of the last eight games for the Bears.
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 second in scoring in the conference behind Alisha Davis, averaging a whopping 16.9 points per contest. The 5'10" guard was also right on Alisha Davis' heels in rebounding, pulling down 9.2 per game.
As a team, the Thunderbirds clean the glass like no one else in the Big Sky, boasting a +9.6 rebounding margin.
History against Southern Utah
All-time Northern Colorado is 11-7 versus Southern Utah with a 2-0 mark in neutral territory. UNC had won nine straight against the Thunderbirds before dropping its
last three.
Southern Utah got the best of UNC in its only matchup of the year back on February 4. Alisha Davis tallied 13 points and 10 rebounds but it wasn't enough as the Thunderbirds took the victory, 70-63.
The second matchup scheduled between the two schools was canceled due to COVID-19 protocols.
Against the Conference
The Bears are 12-7 thus far in Big Sky Conference play. Since joining the conference, UNC has 170 wins to just 129 losses.
On This Date
Northern Colorado has played two Big Sky Tournament games on March 9, winning both. UNC beat Montana State, 51-43, in 2012 and Idaho State, 73-66, in 2018.
What's Ahead?
Should the Bears prevail against the Thunderbirds, they'll await the winner of Idaho State and Portland State. That semifinal is scheduled for 6 p.m. MT on Wednesday.
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
F
/ Women's Basketball
G/PG
/ Women's BasketballTuesday, March 24
Friday, March 20
Tuesday, March 17
Tuesday, March 03
