University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Saturday, March 4
Boise, Idaho
12 p.m.
University of Northern Colorado
vs
Weber State
Photo by: Derek Fryar
UNC Opens Big Sky Tournament vs. Weber State
3/2/2023 11:57:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BOISE, Idaho – The UNC women's basketball team begins its postseason quest at the 2023 Big Sky Conference Tournament that's being played at Idaho Central Arena.
The Bears, which qualified as the No. 9 seed, will match up No. 10 seed Weber State. Opening tip is set for 12 p.m. and will be broadcast on the ESPN + platform.
Series vs. Weber State
This marks the 32nd time UNC and WSU will meet on the hardwood. The Bears have won seven in a row in the series and rolled past the Wildcats 73-60 (in Ogden) and 67-39 (in Greeley). The Bears 67-39 win was the largest margin of victory in the series, which dates back to 2008.
Last Time vs. the Wildcats (2/7/23)
UNC jumped out to a 33-18 first half lead and cruised past WSU 73-60.
The Bears used a heavy dose of Delaynie Bryne to keep the Wildcats at bay.
Byrne finished with a game-high 23 points on 8-for-14 shooting from the field to go along with eight rebounds. The Arvada native shot 3-for-6 from 3-point range and 4-for-6 from the charity stripe.
Hannah Simental dropped 16 points and the conference's top free-throw shooter finished 11-for-14 at the charity stripe.
Averee Kleinhans added 14 points and went a perfect 6-for-6 at the free-throw line. Kleinhans also handed out a game-high six assists.
Gabi Fields and Lauren Andrews each scored seven points.
As a team, UNC shot 48.9 percent (23-for-47) from the floor, while holding WSU to 37.7 percent (23-for-61) from the field.
Winning at the Free-Throw Line
The Bears rank 11th in the country and first in the Big Sky in free-throw percentage and are converting 78.6 percent of their attempts. Hannah Simental is a near guarantee at the charity stripe and sports a 91.0 free-throw percentage, which ranks first in the conference and fifth nationally. Teammate Averee Kleinhans is converting 75.0 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 13.4 points to go with 2.9 rebounds per game. Simental has started and played in each game this season and is shooting 40.1 percent from the field and a dangerous 39.1 percent from beyond the arc.
Byrne, a 6-foot-3 forward is busy in front of the basket and a dual-threat The Arvada native averages 14.1 points 7.1 rebounds per game, both team highs. Bryne is known to take high-quality shots and is shooting 46.5 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 sekection.
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.
The Bears, which qualified as the No. 9 seed, will match up No. 10 seed Weber State. Opening tip is set for 12 p.m. and will be broadcast on the ESPN + platform.
Series vs. Weber State
This marks the 32nd time UNC and WSU will meet on the hardwood. The Bears have won seven in a row in the series and rolled past the Wildcats 73-60 (in Ogden) and 67-39 (in Greeley). The Bears 67-39 win was the largest margin of victory in the series, which dates back to 2008.
Last Time vs. the Wildcats (2/7/23)
UNC jumped out to a 33-18 first half lead and cruised past WSU 73-60.
The Bears used a heavy dose of Delaynie Bryne to keep the Wildcats at bay.
Byrne finished with a game-high 23 points on 8-for-14 shooting from the field to go along with eight rebounds. The Arvada native shot 3-for-6 from 3-point range and 4-for-6 from the charity stripe.
Hannah Simental dropped 16 points and the conference's top free-throw shooter finished 11-for-14 at the charity stripe.
Averee Kleinhans added 14 points and went a perfect 6-for-6 at the free-throw line. Kleinhans also handed out a game-high six assists.
Gabi Fields and Lauren Andrews each scored seven points.
As a team, UNC shot 48.9 percent (23-for-47) from the floor, while holding WSU to 37.7 percent (23-for-61) from the field.
Winning at the Free-Throw Line
The Bears rank 11th in the country and first in the Big Sky in free-throw percentage and are converting 78.6 percent of their attempts. Hannah Simental is a near guarantee at the charity stripe and sports a 91.0 free-throw percentage, which ranks first in the conference and fifth nationally. Teammate Averee Kleinhans is converting 75.0 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 13.4 points to go with 2.9 rebounds per game. Simental has started and played in each game this season and is shooting 40.1 percent from the field and a dangerous 39.1 percent from beyond the arc.
Byrne, a 6-foot-3 forward is busy in front of the basket and a dual-threat The Arvada native averages 14.1 points 7.1 rebounds per game, both team highs. Bryne is known to take high-quality shots and is shooting 46.5 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 sekection.
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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