Women's Basketball draws NAU in Big Sky semifinals

Wednesday, March 9

Boise, Idaho

5:30 p.m. MT

University of Northern Colorado

Northern Arizona University

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3/9/2022 10:51:00 AM | Women's Basketball

ESPN+LIVE STATS CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL TICKETS GAME NOTES

By: By Thomas Hoffman, UNCBears.com

GREELEY, Colo. – Another day, another Big Sky Tournament matchup as the Bears take on Northern Arizona in its third game is as many days.

Game Info
Who: vs Northern Arizona (16-13, 12-8)
When: March 9 at 5:30 p.m. MT
Where: Boise, ID | Idaho Central Arena
How To Follow: LIVE STREAM | LIVE STATS | UNC_BearsWBB

Opening Tip
Northern Colorado avenged last season's Big Sky Tournament loss by upsetting the No. 1 Idaho State Bengals on Tuesday. The last time UNC beat ISU, they went on to win its first tournament title and clinch a berth in the NCAA Tournament. That
semifinal win came exactly four years ago to the date (March 9, 2018).

Hannah Simental keeps climbing the ladder. Entering Wednesday's matchup, Simental ranks 14th in the country in three-point shooting percentage (42.1) and eighth in free-throw percentage (90.1).

Kurstyn Harden's 23-point effort was UNC first 20-point game since Jasmine Gayles dropped 21 against Southern Utah a season ago.

The Bears are 14-24 (58.3%) from three-point range over the last two games. As it stands, it would be the highest percentage from beyond the arc in two-plus games in Big Sky Tournament history.

Last Time Out
Kurstyn Harden poured in 23 points, 15 of which in the second half, as Northern Colorado upset the No. 1 seeded Idaho State Bengals, 72-54, to advance to the Big Sky Tournament semifinals for the second straight year.

Scouting the Lumberjacks
Loree Payne brings the conference's best offense into Boise and just rolled the Montana Grizzlies, 75-57, in its quarterfinal matchup. Payne's lumberjacks average 73.1 points per game, which is the 35th-best in the nation.

NAU had produced a prolific offense all without a single player in the top-15 in the conference in scoring. Instead, three different players average in double figures, led by senior Lauren Orndoff.

Meanwhile, junior Regan Schenk takes care of business in the ball handling department. Schenk's 5.9 assists per game are by far the most in the Big Sky and ranks No. 12 in the country.

As a team, only Sacramento State has been more efficient on offense since league play began. The Lumberjacks are operating at a clip of 43.6 percent from the floor.

History against Northern Arizona
Northern Colorado owns a 23-10 mark versus its fellow Northern in the Big Sky Conference. UNC and NAU split the regular season matchups this year, with the road team taking the victory each time.

Wednesday marks the first time the Bears and Lumberjacks have met in the postseason.

Bears in Boise (Tournament)
After Monday's win, UNC boasts a 12-9 record in the Big Sky Tournament since joining the conference in the 2006-07 season. In Boise specifically, the Bears are now 4-2.

What's Ahead?
The Championship Game awaits. Should the Bears advance, UNC will play the winner of Idaho and Montana State.

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