Four Bears in double figures as epic rally falls just short at Idaho

Saturday, February 26

Moscow, Idaho

3 p.m. MT

University of Northern Colorado

11-15,7-11Big Sky

Idaho

10-16,9-8Big Sky

Northern Colo.

Idaho

2/26/2022 9:26:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: By Thomas Hoffman, UNCBears.com

MOSCOW, Idaho – Northern Colorado never quit.

Trailing by as many as 27, UNC rallied to get back within five points but it was too little too late as Idaho took the victory, 88-79.

While the Bears shot over 40 percent from the floor in the opening quarter and limited its turnovers, Idaho just seemingly couldn't miss.

The Vandals shot 55 percent from the floor, including 5-10 from the beyond the arc to take the early lead.

Alexis Chapman provided a nice spark off the bench in the first half for head coach Kristen Mattio. The Texas native poured in a team-high nine points, including seven of the first 12 points for UNC.

Fellow Lone Star State native Kurstyn Harden started to find her groove in the paint. Harden started 4-6 in the first half for eight points, two rebounds and two assists.

Idaho continued to shoot well throughout the third quarter and led by as many as 27 points before Northern Colorado mounted its charge.

And oh what a charge it was.

Sydney Stensgard kicked off UNC's scoring barrage. The sophomore buried a pair of threes and ignited a 13-0 run.

Stensgard would finish with a career-high 11 points.

Between the third and fourth quarters, Northern Colorado produced a 15-3 run that firmly put the Bears back in the ballgame.

Alexis Chapman, Hannah Simental and Allie Downing all started to hit from the outside and UNC got as close as five, trailing 80-75.

One last push from the Vandals, though, put the contest just out of reach for the Bears but its 27-point fourth quarter was hardcore proof this Northern Colorado team does not quit.

Stat of the Game
Idaho led by 27 points at the 4:43 mark in the third quarter for a 13-0 run and 15-3 run helped the Bears get back within single digits.

Game Notes

Alexis Chapman scored a season-high 19 points.
Hannah Simental (16) and Kurstyn Harden (15) and Sydney Stensgard (11) rounded out the Bears in double figures.
Stensgard's 11 points were a career-high.
UNC's nine turnovers were a season-low.

What's Ahead
The Bears will be back in Greeley on March 2, when they take on Montana. 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.