Lights-out fourth quarter solidifies Bears' first Big Sky win of the season

Saturday, January 22

Greeley, Colo.

2 p.m. MT

University of Northern Colorado

5-8,1-4Big Sky

Eastern Washington

4-13,2-6Big Sky

Eastern Wash.

Northern Colo.

1/22/2022 5:22:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: By Thomas Hoffman, UNCBears.com

GREELEY, Colo. – Four of the five conference games Northern Colorado has played in have been decided by single digits. Saturday inside Bank of Colorado Arena, there Bears made certain they weren't leaving with anything but a victory.

Lights-out shooting and clutch performances up and down the roster propelled UNC to its first Big Sky win of the season, 62-54, over Eastern Washington.

Fresh off her first double-double in the Blue and Gold, senior Allie Downing got the Bears going in the first quarter with the team's first five points.

Downing would finish with 12 points and five rebounds.

While Downing and Hannah Simental added five and six points in the first half, respectively, Northern Colorado was already getting help from others on the scoresheet.

Jaiden Galloway added a three, Callie Boyles added four points and Sabine Lipe contributed eight crucial points to give UNC the seven-point lead at the break, 30-23.

AND ONE!@LipeSabine | #GetUpGreeley🐻🏀 pic.twitter.com/LiN02b6wrg
— UNC Bears WBB (@UNC_BearsWBB) January 22, 2022

Defensively, head coach Kristen Mattio's crew were as strong as ever, holding the Eagles to 25.8 percent from the floor in the first half.

After a low-scoring third quarter, the Bears reset for its final surge.

Simental came alive, pouring in 11 of her 17 points in the final frame. Her back-to-back triples with under eight minutes to play created the separation UNC needed from EWU.

Meanwhile, Downing found seven late points, including a critical and-one with two minutes on the clock.

Lead in hand, it was down to free throws to seal the deal. With ice in their veins, Simental, Downing, Jaiden Galloway and Micayla Isenbart all delivered at the charity stripe.

When the dust settled, Northern Colorado shot 60 percent from the floor, 66.7 from three and 81.8 percent from the free-throw line all in the fourth quarter to put the game on ice, 62-54.

What They Said

Stat of the Game
Northern Colorado held its opponent under 60 points for the seventh time this season. The Bears are 5-2 in such games.

Game Notes

Hannah Simental (17 points) reached double figures for the eighth time this season and the 18^th time in her career.
Allie Downing (12 points) scored in double figures for the second straight game and the fifth time this season.
UNC outscored EWU 16-14 in the paint, marking the fifth time the Bears have outscored its opponents in the category. UNC is 4-1 in those games.
Northern Colorado's bench outscored its opponent for the eighth time this season.
Forty-three rebounds were the third most the Bears have piled up this season.

What's Ahead
Northern Colorado heads out on the road for five straight games away before returning to Bank of Colorado Arena on February 5, against Northern Arizona. 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.