Women's Basketball resets to host Idaho Thursday

Thursday, January 20

Greeley, Colo.

6 p.m. MT

University of Northern Colorado

Idaho

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Photo by: Jam David

1/19/2022 1:29:00 PM | Women's Basketball

ESPN+LIVE STATS TICKETS GAME NOTES

By: By Thomas Hoffman, UNCBears.com

GREELEY, Colo. – After battling Southern Utah toe-to-toe in overtime, Northern Colorado turns around quickly, hosting the Idaho Vandals on Thursday evening.

Game Info
Who: vs. Idaho (3-12, 2-4)
When: January 20 at 6 p.m. MT
Where: Bank of Colorado Arena
How To Follow: LIVE STREAM | LIVE STATS | UNC_BearsWBB

Opening Tip
Sophomore Hannah Simental looks like she hasn't missed a step. After more than three weeks without a game, Simental wasted little time making an impact for the Bears against Southern Utah, scoring 16 of her career-high 21 points in the first half.

Junior forward Kurstyn Harden has similarly regained her stride on the court. After posting her first-career double-double against Kansas Wesleyan, the Lufkin, Texas native posted her second straight one, tying her career-high with 18 points while pulling down 11 rebounds. Harden also went a cool 6-of-6 from the free-throw line.

Kristen Mattio's defense has proven to be a tough egg to crack in the early parts of Big Sky play. Averaging 59.6 points against, UNC ranks second-best in the conference and No. 98 in the nation.

Since knocking down her first three in a Bears uniform against Samford in November, Allie Downing has been lights-out from beyond the arc. The senior transfer from Belmont Abbey College has now hit at least one three in seven straight games.

Last Time Out
Hannah Simental collected a career-high 21 points and Kurstyn Harden grabbed her second-straight double-double but it wasn't enough to overcome the Thunderbirds with SUU claiming the overtime victory.

Scouting the Vandals
In his 14th season at the helm of Idaho, Jon Newlee's squad rolls into Greeley with a 3-12 record in 2021-22. However, two of his three victories have come in conference against Eastern Washington and Weber State.

The Vandals are known for their lights-out shooting from beyond the arc. This season, Idaho ranks No. 1 in the Big Sky in three-point field goals attempted (447), three-point field goals made (132) and three-point field goals per game (8.8).

Tiana Johnson and Sydney Gandy have been the dynamic duo from deep. The two both rank in the top five in the conference in every category from three-point range.

Meanwhile, preseason All-Big Sky Selection Beyonce Bea has been a force to be reckoned with in the low post. Bea ranks fourth in rebounding. As a team, Idaho is the second-best defensive rebounding team in the Big Sky at an even 30 per contest. That mark is also 17th best in the nation.

History against Idaho
Northern Colorado is 8-5 all-time against the Vandals, including a 4-3 mark inside Bank of Colorado Arena. Each of the last two victories by UNC has come by five points or less.

What's Ahead?
The Bears get one more home game against Eastern Washington on Saturday, January 22 at 2 p.m. MT before heading back out on the road. 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.