University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Thursday, January 12
Greeley, Colo.
6 p.m.
University of Northern Colorado
vs
Sacramento State
Photo by: Dean Popejoy
Northern Colorado Hosts Sacramento State in Big Sky Clash
1/11/2023 1:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
GREELEY, Colo. – Northern Colorado returns to the friendly confines of Bank of Colorado Arena for a pivotal Big Sky clash with Sacramento State. Opening tip is set for 6 p.m. and an ESPN+ national broadcast.
Series Record
UNC leads the all-time series 20-10 and sport a 11-3 record at home. The Hornets have two in a row in the series, however, over the past 10 games the Bears are 8-2 and between 2016 and 2021 won 10 games in a row.
Last Time vs. SSU (2/10/2022)
The Hornets edged the Bears 65-55 from Bank of Colorado Arena. Hannah Simental finished with a team-high 19 points, Kurstyn Harden added 12 points and Jayce Gorzeman helped with 11 points. UNC used its bench and outscored SSU 17-2,
Winning at the Free-Throw Line
The Bears rank fourth in the country and first in the Big Sky in free-throw percentage and are converting 79.9 percent of their attempts. Hannah Simental is a new guarantee at the charity stripe and sports a 93.5 free-throw percentage, which ranks first in the conference and eighth nationally.
Simental & Company
Simental is the Bears' go-to scorer. The Pueblo native and guard is averaging a team-high 16.2 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. Simental has started and played in each game this season and is shooting 44.4 percent from the field and a dangerous 44.6 percent from beyond the arc.
Delaynie Bryne, a 6-foot-3 forward is busy in front of the basket. The Arvada native averages 12.1 points and a team-high 7.1 rebounds per game. Bryne is known to take high-quality shots and is shooting 45.7 percent from the floor, which is a team-high.
Gabi Fields averages 9.2 points and 3.4 boards per game, while Avree Kleinhans averages 9.1 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.
Brief Look at SSU
The Hornets use a balanced offensive attack, which is led by Kahlaijah Natabout and averages 20.1 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. The guard plays an average of 35.9 minutes per game and is shooting 47.7 percent from the field. Isnelle Natabou is their inside presence and the 6-foot-5 center averages 16.6 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.
Other Notes
Simental Named to All-Big Sky Preseason Team
Simental is poised to challenge the very best in the conference in her junior campaign as positioned by the Big Sky Preseason All-Conference announcement on Thursday.
One of seven individuals recognized by the league, and one of only two non-seniors, Simental averaged 14.7 points per game last season to not only lead the Bears, but to rank No. 6 in the conference ledger.
An elite shooter from long range, Simental led the conference and was ranked No. 14 in the NCAA DI with a 42.3 percentage from deep. In addition, her 90.6 percent conversion rate from the free throw line stood as the No. 5 mark in the nation.
Simental was named to the Big Sky All-Tournament Team last season after guiding the Bears to a pair of postseason wins, including a 72-54 rout over No. 1-seeded Idaho State.
Bears Ink Tatum West
Coach Mattio welcomes yet another talent to their roster with the addition of Tatum West.
West will make her way to Greeley next fall by way of Combine, Texas and will bring a long list of accolades with her to Northern Colorado after becoming a four-year letterwinner for Crandall High School.
West is also the No. 22 ranked recruit in the state of Texas for the 2023 class according to Jason Keys and Premier Basketball. In her junior season, West averaged 16.9 points per game and 12 rebounds.
The 6'1" forward was also named First Team All-District three times, was voted Newcomer of the Year her freshman season, and earned District Defensive MVP last season. She is also a two-time Team MVP and Offensive MVP and surpassed the 1,000-point mark in her high school career last season.
In addition to her prolific high school career, West played AAU basketball for Higher Goals, one of the top AAU programs in Texas.
West chose UNC over multiple institutions including Montana State, Tarleton State, Incarnate Word, Texas State, New Mexico State, Fresno State, Binghamton, and the University of Pennsylvania.
Series Record
UNC leads the all-time series 20-10 and sport a 11-3 record at home. The Hornets have two in a row in the series, however, over the past 10 games the Bears are 8-2 and between 2016 and 2021 won 10 games in a row.
Last Time vs. SSU (2/10/2022)
The Hornets edged the Bears 65-55 from Bank of Colorado Arena. Hannah Simental finished with a team-high 19 points, Kurstyn Harden added 12 points and Jayce Gorzeman helped with 11 points. UNC used its bench and outscored SSU 17-2,
Winning at the Free-Throw Line
The Bears rank fourth in the country and first in the Big Sky in free-throw percentage and are converting 79.9 percent of their attempts. Hannah Simental is a new guarantee at the charity stripe and sports a 93.5 free-throw percentage, which ranks first in the conference and eighth nationally.
Simental & Company
Simental is the Bears' go-to scorer. The Pueblo native and guard is averaging a team-high 16.2 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. Simental has started and played in each game this season and is shooting 44.4 percent from the field and a dangerous 44.6 percent from beyond the arc.
Delaynie Bryne, a 6-foot-3 forward is busy in front of the basket. The Arvada native averages 12.1 points and a team-high 7.1 rebounds per game. Bryne is known to take high-quality shots and is shooting 45.7 percent from the floor, which is a team-high.
Gabi Fields averages 9.2 points and 3.4 boards per game, while Avree Kleinhans averages 9.1 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.
Brief Look at SSU
The Hornets use a balanced offensive attack, which is led by Kahlaijah Natabout and averages 20.1 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. The guard plays an average of 35.9 minutes per game and is shooting 47.7 percent from the field. Isnelle Natabou is their inside presence and the 6-foot-5 center averages 16.6 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.
Other Notes
Simental Named to All-Big Sky Preseason Team
Simental is poised to challenge the very best in the conference in her junior campaign as positioned by the Big Sky Preseason All-Conference announcement on Thursday.
One of seven individuals recognized by the league, and one of only two non-seniors, Simental averaged 14.7 points per game last season to not only lead the Bears, but to rank No. 6 in the conference ledger.
An elite shooter from long range, Simental led the conference and was ranked No. 14 in the NCAA DI with a 42.3 percentage from deep. In addition, her 90.6 percent conversion rate from the free throw line stood as the No. 5 mark in the nation.
Simental was named to the Big Sky All-Tournament Team last season after guiding the Bears to a pair of postseason wins, including a 72-54 rout over No. 1-seeded Idaho State.
Bears Ink Tatum West
Coach Mattio welcomes yet another talent to their roster with the addition of Tatum West.
West will make her way to Greeley next fall by way of Combine, Texas and will bring a long list of accolades with her to Northern Colorado after becoming a four-year letterwinner for Crandall High School.
West is also the No. 22 ranked recruit in the state of Texas for the 2023 class according to Jason Keys and Premier Basketball. In her junior season, West averaged 16.9 points per game and 12 rebounds.
The 6'1" forward was also named First Team All-District three times, was voted Newcomer of the Year her freshman season, and earned District Defensive MVP last season. She is also a two-time Team MVP and Offensive MVP and surpassed the 1,000-point mark in her high school career last season.
In addition to her prolific high school career, West played AAU basketball for Higher Goals, one of the top AAU programs in Texas.
West chose UNC over multiple institutions including Montana State, Tarleton State, Incarnate Word, Texas State, New Mexico State, Fresno State, Binghamton, and the University of Pennsylvania.
Players Mentioned
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