University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Saturday, February 25
Flagstaff, Ariz.
2 p.m.
University of Northern Colorado
at
Northern Arizona
Photo by: Derek Fryar
UNC Travels to NAU for Big Sky Bout
2/24/2023 2:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Northern Colorado travels to Northern Arizona for the first leg of a two-game road Big Sky Conference swing. The matchup between the Bears and Lumberjacks is set for 2 p.m. on the ESPN + platform.
Series Record
This is the 31st time UNC and NAU will meet on the hardwood and the Bears own a 20-10 series advantage. UNC is 10-4 all-time on the road at NAU and the Bears largest margin of victory in the series was an 71-42 win on February 14, 2013. Despite doubling up the Lumberjacks in series wins, NAU is 7-3 over the past 10 games and have won three in a row
Last Time vs. Northern Arizona (1/28/2023)
Delaynie Byrne recorded her fifth double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds in UNC's 62-59 setback versus Northern Arizona.
Hannah Simental added a team-high 14 points and Averee Kleinhans helped with 10 points along seven rebounds.
Winning at the Free-Throw Line
The Bears rank 15th in the country and second in the Big Sky in free-throw percentage and are converting 78.3 percent of their attempts. Hannah Simental is a near guarantee at the charity stripe and sports a 90.7 free-throw percentage, which ranks first in the conference and seventh nationally.
Simental & Company
Simental is the Bears' go-to scorer. The Pueblo native and guard is averaging a team-high 13.9 points to go with 3.1 rebounds per game. Simental has started and played in each game this season and is shooting 40.3 percent from the field and a dangerous 38.7 percent from beyond the arc.
Delaynie Byrne, a 6-foot-3 forward is busy in front of the basket and a dual-threat The Arvada native averages 13.9 points and a team-high 7.3 rebounds per game. Bryne is known to take high-quality shots and is shooting 46.2 percent from the floor, which is a team-high.
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
This is the 31st time UNC and NAU will meet on the hardwood and the Bears own a 20-10 series advantage. UNC is 10-4 all-time on the road at NAU and the Bears largest margin of victory in the series was an 71-42 win on February 14, 2013. Despite doubling up the Lumberjacks in series wins, NAU is 7-3 over the past 10 games and have won three in a row
Last Time vs. Northern Arizona (1/28/2023)
Delaynie Byrne recorded her fifth double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds in UNC's 62-59 setback versus Northern Arizona.
Hannah Simental added a team-high 14 points and Averee Kleinhans helped with 10 points along seven rebounds.
Winning at the Free-Throw Line
The Bears rank 15th in the country and second in the Big Sky in free-throw percentage and are converting 78.3 percent of their attempts. Hannah Simental is a near guarantee at the charity stripe and sports a 90.7 free-throw percentage, which ranks first in the conference and seventh nationally.
Simental & Company
Simental is the Bears' go-to scorer. The Pueblo native and guard is averaging a team-high 13.9 points to go with 3.1 rebounds per game. Simental has started and played in each game this season and is shooting 40.3 percent from the field and a dangerous 38.7 percent from beyond the arc.
Delaynie Byrne, a 6-foot-3 forward is busy in front of the basket and a dual-threat The Arvada native averages 13.9 points and a team-high 7.3 rebounds per game. Bryne is known to take high-quality shots and is shooting 46.2 percent from the floor, which is a team-high.
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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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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