Northern Colorado Continues Road Swing at Omaha

Friday, November 17

Omaha, Neb.

11 a.m. (MTN)

University of Northern Colorado

Omaha

11/16/2023 12:38:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Tip is set for 11 a.m. - NO TV

By: Dennis Driscoll, UNC Associate Athletic Director for Strategic Communications

Northern Colorado at Omaha
Omaha, Neb. / Baxter Arena
Friday, Nov. 17 | 11 a.m. MST

OMAHA, Neb. – The University of Northern Colorado women's basketball team completes its two-game road swing at Omaha, which is slated for an 11 a.m. (MTN) start.

Bears and the Mavericks

UNC and Omaha have a long history at the NCAA Division II level and have played several times since both programs transitioned to NCAA Division I status.

Since 2013, UNC holds a 3-2 series lead. The two teams played last season in Greeley, and UNC came away with a 67-45 win in Greeley. The last match-up in Omaha was in 2021, which the Mavericks won 48-41. UNC last won in Omaha in 2014, which was a 67-58 triumph.

Last time vs. Omaha (12/16/22)

UNC used a balanced offensive attack to scoot past Omaha 67-58.

Hannah Simental scored a team-high 17 points and went 3-for-4 from beyond the arc, and 6-for-6 at the free-throw line. Gabi Fields added 14 points, and Delaynie Byrne chipped in 10 points.

Defensively, UNC kept the Mavericks to a cool 30.4 percent from the floor.

Last time out

The Bears are coming off a 72-59 setback at South Dakota.

Delaynie Byrne scored a team-high 15 points and collected 12 rebounds for her first double-double of the season and eighth in a Bear's uniform.

True freshman Tatum West dropped 12 points on 4-for-9 shooting from the floor, while Gabi Fields added 10 points and handed out a pair of assists.

Simental Named to Big Sky Conference Preseason Team

Simental, a Pueblo, Colorado native has established herself as one of the premier student-athletes in the conference and is coming off a record-breaking 2023-23 campaign.

The Pueblo West High School graduate joined the 1000-point career club and is a pure point-scorer.

Simental led the conference with a.912 free-throw percentage and shot 37.9 percent from three-point range, which was fourth in the conference.

Bears Sign 2 on Early Signing Day

University of Northern Colorado head women's basketball coach Kristen Mattio is pleased to announce the signings of Olivia Loomis-Goltl and Neenah George.

Olivia Loomis-Goltl

Bridgeport, Neb.
Bridgeport HS
5-foot-10 Guard

Loomis-Goltl is a major coup for Mattio, and projects as a guard.

She averaged 18.5 points per game in 81 games over three varsity seasons from 2020-23, according to the high school sports website MaxPreps. Loomis-Goltl has also averaged 6.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 3.4 steals per game in that span.

Loomis-Goltl is a three-sport athlete and competes in track and swimming. She was a 2021-22 Class C-2 All-State Selection and played on the 2023 Class C-2 Runner-Up Team.

Neenah George

Rowlett, Texas
Legion Prep Academy
5-foot-8 Point Guard

George is a skilled point guard and will provide a spark for the Bears.

Last season, she played in 30 games and averaged 13.1 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. A three-sport athlete, George also excelled in track and soccer and played football. She is a four-time A/B honor roll selection and is a member of the National Honor Society. Hobbies include bowling, listening to music, and writing.