University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Monday, February 27
Pocatello, Idaho
6 p.m.
University of Northern Colorado
at
Idaho State
Photo by: Derek Fryar
UNC Closes Out Regular Season Monday at Idaho State
2/26/2023 5:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
POCATELLO, Idaho. – Northern Colorado travels to Idaho State for the final regular season game of the season. The matchup between the Bears and Bengals is set for 7 p.m. on the ESPN + platform.
Series Record
This is the 37th time UNC and ISU will meet on the hardwood and the Bengals lead the series 22-14. UNC is 6-11 all-time on the road at IS and the Bears largest margin of victory in the series was an 73-49 win on February 28, 2011. Over the past 10 games UNC is 3-7 versus ISU.
Last Time vs. Northern Arizona (12/31/2022)
Idaho State defeated Northern Colorado 63-42 in Big Sky Conference competition.
The Bengals improved to 7-6 (2-0 Big Sky) and the Bears fall to 8-5 (1-1 Big Sky).
Junior Hannah Simental scored a team-high 10 points and collected five rebounds, while Delaynie Bryne added nine points and four rebounds. Freshman Aniah Hall dropped eight points on 4-for-5 shooting from the field.
Winning at the Free-Throw Line
The Bears rank eighth in the country and first in the Big Sky in free-throw percentage and are converting 79 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. Teammate Averee Kleinhans is converting 74.7 percent of her attempts, which ranks 247th nationally and 11th in the conference.
Simental & Company
Simental is the Bears' go-to scorer. The Pueblo native and guard is averaging 13.9 points to go with 3.0 rebounds per game. Simental has started and played in each game this season and is shooting 39.9 percent from the field and a dangerous 38.6 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 14.2 points and a team-high 7.3 rebounds per game. Bryne is known to take high-quality shots and is shooting 47.1 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 37th time UNC and ISU will meet on the hardwood and the Bengals lead the series 22-14. UNC is 6-11 all-time on the road at IS and the Bears largest margin of victory in the series was an 73-49 win on February 28, 2011. Over the past 10 games UNC is 3-7 versus ISU.
Last Time vs. Northern Arizona (12/31/2022)
Idaho State defeated Northern Colorado 63-42 in Big Sky Conference competition.
The Bengals improved to 7-6 (2-0 Big Sky) and the Bears fall to 8-5 (1-1 Big Sky).
Junior Hannah Simental scored a team-high 10 points and collected five rebounds, while Delaynie Bryne added nine points and four rebounds. Freshman Aniah Hall dropped eight points on 4-for-5 shooting from the field.
Winning at the Free-Throw Line
The Bears rank eighth in the country and first in the Big Sky in free-throw percentage and are converting 79 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. Teammate Averee Kleinhans is converting 74.7 percent of her attempts, which ranks 247th nationally and 11th in the conference.
Simental & Company
Simental is the Bears' go-to scorer. The Pueblo native and guard is averaging 13.9 points to go with 3.0 rebounds per game. Simental has started and played in each game this season and is shooting 39.9 percent from the field and a dangerous 38.6 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 14.2 points and a team-high 7.3 rebounds per game. Bryne is known to take high-quality shots and is shooting 47.1 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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