University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Thursday, January 19
Cheney, Wash.
12 p.m.
University of Northern Colorado
at
Eastern Washington
Northern Colorado Travels to Eastern Washington for Big Sky Tilt
1/18/2023 6:42:00 PM | Women's Basketball
CHANEY, Wash. – Northern Colorado embarks on a two-game road swing, beginning Thursday at Eastern Washington for a rare noon start. The game will be broadcast nationally on the ESPN + platform.
Series Record
UNC leads the all-time series 20-11 and sport a 9-6 record at EWU. The Bears are 7-3 over the past 10 match-ups and have won five of its past six in the series.
Last Time vs. (EWU 3/7/2022)
The Bears and Eagles last met in the 2022 Big Sky tournament, with UNC prevailing 64-45. Four student-athletes scored in double figures and were led by Allie Downing's 14 point effort. Kurstyn Harden scored 13 points and grabbed 13 boards, while Hannah Simental and Alexis Chapman each added 11 points.
Winning at the Free-Throw Line
The Bears rank 3rd in the country and first in the Big Sky in free-throw percentage and are converting 79.6 percent of their attempts. Hannah Simental is a new guarantee at the charity stripe and sports a 93.9 free-throw percentage, which ranks first in the conference and third nationally.
Simental & Company
Simental is the Bears' go-to scorer. The Pueblo native and guard is averaging a team-high 14.9 points to go with 3.3 rebounds per game. Simental has started and played in each game this season and is shooting 42.5 percent from the field and a dangerous 43.0 percent from beyond the arc.
Delaynie Bryne, a 6-foot-3 forward is busy in front of the basket. The Arvada native averages 12.7 points and a team-high 7.1 rebounds per game. Bryne is known to take high-quality shots and is shooting 45.8 percent from the floor, which is a team-high.
Avree Kleinhans is averaging 9.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, while Gabi Fields is averaging 9.1 points and 3.3 boards per game.
Brief Look vs. EWU
The Eagles are led by 6-footer Jaydia Martin who averages 15.8 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. In the backcourt, the Jacinta Buckley sets the tone and averages 11.0 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. Buckley is joined by Jamie Loera and averages 10.5 points per game, while Aaliyah Alexander and Jaleesa Lawrence average 9.8 and 9.1 points per game, respectively.
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 20-11 and sport a 9-6 record at EWU. The Bears are 7-3 over the past 10 match-ups and have won five of its past six in the series.
Last Time vs. (EWU 3/7/2022)
The Bears and Eagles last met in the 2022 Big Sky tournament, with UNC prevailing 64-45. Four student-athletes scored in double figures and were led by Allie Downing's 14 point effort. Kurstyn Harden scored 13 points and grabbed 13 boards, while Hannah Simental and Alexis Chapman each added 11 points.
Winning at the Free-Throw Line
The Bears rank 3rd in the country and first in the Big Sky in free-throw percentage and are converting 79.6 percent of their attempts. Hannah Simental is a new guarantee at the charity stripe and sports a 93.9 free-throw percentage, which ranks first in the conference and third nationally.
Simental & Company
Simental is the Bears' go-to scorer. The Pueblo native and guard is averaging a team-high 14.9 points to go with 3.3 rebounds per game. Simental has started and played in each game this season and is shooting 42.5 percent from the field and a dangerous 43.0 percent from beyond the arc.
Delaynie Bryne, a 6-foot-3 forward is busy in front of the basket. The Arvada native averages 12.7 points and a team-high 7.1 rebounds per game. Bryne is known to take high-quality shots and is shooting 45.8 percent from the floor, which is a team-high.
Avree Kleinhans is averaging 9.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, while Gabi Fields is averaging 9.1 points and 3.3 boards per game.
Brief Look vs. EWU
The Eagles are led by 6-footer Jaydia Martin who averages 15.8 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. In the backcourt, the Jacinta Buckley sets the tone and averages 11.0 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. Buckley is joined by Jamie Loera and averages 10.5 points per game, while Aaliyah Alexander and Jaleesa Lawrence average 9.8 and 9.1 points per game, respectively.
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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