University of Northern Colorado Athletics

Women's Basketball Hosts Central Christian College & Tabor College for Pair of Games
11/27/2024 2:24:00 PM | Women's Basketball
GREELEY, Colo. – The UNC women's basketball team (3-2, 0-0 BSC) will host Central Christian College of Kansas (2-7, 0-5 SAC) at the Bank of Colorado Arena on Friday, Nov. 29 and Tabor College (Kan.) (5-2, 3-0 KCAC) on Saturday, Nov. 30. Tipoff for both games is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Live Coverage
A live stream will be available for both games provided by the University of Northern Colorado's Bear Vision department through ESPN+. Fans can purchase a subscription at plus.espn.com. Live stats will also be provided for fans to stay up to date, provided by the UNC Strategic Communications department.
The Series
This will be the first match up for the Bears and both teams in program history.
Scouting the Tigers
The Central Christian Tigers women's basketball team is in the midst of a rebuilding season under head coach Brad Willems. After a tough 2023-24 campaign in which they finished 5-23 overall and 1-21 in the Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC), the Tigers are looking to establish a new culture of competitiveness. This season, they have started 2-7 overall and remain winless in conference play at 0-5. Despite the slow start, Coach Willems has emphasized the importance of progress and a fresh mindset, aiming to make the Tigers a team that challenges opponents every game.
The Tigers return six players from last year's roster, including junior Hallee Winsea and Denia Miller, who are instrumental in leading the team on and off the court. Winsea, a vocal and energetic leader, has embraced her role as a motivator and is confident in the team's potential. Miller provides additional veteran stability as the Tigers work to integrate 10 new players, including several key transfers. Charmaine Marshall, a transfer from a Division II program in Oklahoma, brings valuable experience, while Cristina Loudan, a JUCO transfer, adds depth to the rotation. Additionally, dual-sport athlete Amaleigh Mattison, who also plays soccer for the Tigers, contributes versatility and athleticism to the squad.
Scouting the Bluejays
The Tabor Lady Bluejays have opened the 2024-25 season with a 5-2 record, including a 3-0 mark in KCAC play, solidifying their status as the conference favorites. Following their sweep of the KCAC Coaches' and Media Polls as the preseason No. 1, Tabor has lived up to the hype. Their strong start reflects the depth, experience, and talent of a team aiming to defend its conference crown after an exceptional 2023-24 campaign.
Tabor's success is fueled by a veteran-heavy roster, including key returners Kassidy Beam, Madie McCoy, Alyvia Owens, Miyah McGee, and Kloe Bowin. These seasoned leaders provide a foundation of stability and leadership on and off the court. Additionally, sophomore Lillie Veer, last season's breakout freshman, continues to elevate her game and adds another layer of offensive firepower. The team excels with balanced scoring, defensive toughness, and strong rebounding, making them a challenging matchup for any opponent.
The Mattio Era
Head Coach Kristen Mattio enters her 4th season at the helm of Bears Basketball. Under Mattio, the Bears are 46-52 since she took over the program in 2020. Mattio cross the 200th career victory mark in the overtime win against an undefeated BYU on Nov. 23. She is the first coach in program history to reach the 200-win mark.
Last Time Out
Northern Colorado delivered a statement win on Saturday night, defeating previously unbeaten BYU 67-60 in overtime at the Marriott Center. The victory marked Head Coach Kristen Mattio's 200th career win and improved the Bears to 3-2 on the season. Gabi Fields led with 17 points and six assists, while Tatum West notched her fourth double-double of the year with 11 points and 14 rebounds. Northern Colorado outscored BYU 11-4 in overtime, with Ella Van Weelden and Silvia Nativi hitting clutch shots to secure the milestone victory.
On This Day: Nov. 29
Friday's game marks the 17th time the Bears have played on this date and the first since the triple overtime win against Colorado State University in 2022. UNC is 11-5 all time and Mattio is 2-0 on Nov. 29.
W(3OT), 102-91 – Colorado State University, 2022
L, 64-66 – Nebraska Omaha, 2020
L, 46-57 – Denver, 2012
L, 65-73 – San Francisco, 2008
W, 62-56 – UC-Colorado Springs, 2006
On This Day: Nov. 30
Saturday's game marks the 14th time the Bears have played on this date and the first in the Mattio Era.
W(OT), 79-74 – BYU, 2017
L, 56-63 – Nebraska, 2014
L, 57-66 – Denver, 2011
L, 52-56 – Colorado Christian. 2002
W, 104-84 – Metro State, 2001
The Big Sky
The 2024-25 Big Sky Conference basketball schedule will feature 10 teams in a mirror schedule format. Each team will play each other twice: once at home, and once away.
The BSC Basketball Championships will feature all teams in the conference with seeding based on the 18 conference games. The championships will take place March 8-9-10-11-12, 2025, at the Idaho Central Arena in Boise, Idaho. The tournament winners will receive an automatic berth to the NCAA Division I Basketball Championship.
2023-24 Review
The Bears finished the season with a trip to the Women's National Invitational Tournament where they lost in the first round to the University of Texas at San Antonio. Delaynie Byrne dropped 14 points on 5-for-16 shooting from the floor and hauled seven rebounds. Aniah Hall paced the team in blocks with two and added 12 points, 6 rebounds, and four assists. They finished with a 15-16 overall record and 5th in the BSC.
Up Next
The Bears will head to St. Paul, Minn. on Dec. 4 to take on St. Thomas in the first game of the Big Sky - Summit Challenge. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.
Follow the Bears
Fans can follow and stay up to date on all the Bear action online and on social media. Follow the Bears on X (formerly Twitter) (@UNC_BearsWBB), Instagram (@UNC_BearsWBB), and Facebook (/UNCBearsWBB). For complete coverage of UNC Athletics, check out the official homepage at uncbears.com.
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Live Coverage
A live stream will be available for both games provided by the University of Northern Colorado's Bear Vision department through ESPN+. Fans can purchase a subscription at plus.espn.com. Live stats will also be provided for fans to stay up to date, provided by the UNC Strategic Communications department.
The Series
This will be the first match up for the Bears and both teams in program history.
Scouting the Tigers
The Central Christian Tigers women's basketball team is in the midst of a rebuilding season under head coach Brad Willems. After a tough 2023-24 campaign in which they finished 5-23 overall and 1-21 in the Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC), the Tigers are looking to establish a new culture of competitiveness. This season, they have started 2-7 overall and remain winless in conference play at 0-5. Despite the slow start, Coach Willems has emphasized the importance of progress and a fresh mindset, aiming to make the Tigers a team that challenges opponents every game.
The Tigers return six players from last year's roster, including junior Hallee Winsea and Denia Miller, who are instrumental in leading the team on and off the court. Winsea, a vocal and energetic leader, has embraced her role as a motivator and is confident in the team's potential. Miller provides additional veteran stability as the Tigers work to integrate 10 new players, including several key transfers. Charmaine Marshall, a transfer from a Division II program in Oklahoma, brings valuable experience, while Cristina Loudan, a JUCO transfer, adds depth to the rotation. Additionally, dual-sport athlete Amaleigh Mattison, who also plays soccer for the Tigers, contributes versatility and athleticism to the squad.
Scouting the Bluejays
The Tabor Lady Bluejays have opened the 2024-25 season with a 5-2 record, including a 3-0 mark in KCAC play, solidifying their status as the conference favorites. Following their sweep of the KCAC Coaches' and Media Polls as the preseason No. 1, Tabor has lived up to the hype. Their strong start reflects the depth, experience, and talent of a team aiming to defend its conference crown after an exceptional 2023-24 campaign.
Tabor's success is fueled by a veteran-heavy roster, including key returners Kassidy Beam, Madie McCoy, Alyvia Owens, Miyah McGee, and Kloe Bowin. These seasoned leaders provide a foundation of stability and leadership on and off the court. Additionally, sophomore Lillie Veer, last season's breakout freshman, continues to elevate her game and adds another layer of offensive firepower. The team excels with balanced scoring, defensive toughness, and strong rebounding, making them a challenging matchup for any opponent.
The Mattio Era
Head Coach Kristen Mattio enters her 4th season at the helm of Bears Basketball. Under Mattio, the Bears are 46-52 since she took over the program in 2020. Mattio cross the 200th career victory mark in the overtime win against an undefeated BYU on Nov. 23. She is the first coach in program history to reach the 200-win mark.
Last Time Out
Northern Colorado delivered a statement win on Saturday night, defeating previously unbeaten BYU 67-60 in overtime at the Marriott Center. The victory marked Head Coach Kristen Mattio's 200th career win and improved the Bears to 3-2 on the season. Gabi Fields led with 17 points and six assists, while Tatum West notched her fourth double-double of the year with 11 points and 14 rebounds. Northern Colorado outscored BYU 11-4 in overtime, with Ella Van Weelden and Silvia Nativi hitting clutch shots to secure the milestone victory.
On This Day: Nov. 29
Friday's game marks the 17th time the Bears have played on this date and the first since the triple overtime win against Colorado State University in 2022. UNC is 11-5 all time and Mattio is 2-0 on Nov. 29.
W(3OT), 102-91 – Colorado State University, 2022
L, 64-66 – Nebraska Omaha, 2020
L, 46-57 – Denver, 2012
L, 65-73 – San Francisco, 2008
W, 62-56 – UC-Colorado Springs, 2006
On This Day: Nov. 30
Saturday's game marks the 14th time the Bears have played on this date and the first in the Mattio Era.
W(OT), 79-74 – BYU, 2017
L, 56-63 – Nebraska, 2014
L, 57-66 – Denver, 2011
L, 52-56 – Colorado Christian. 2002
W, 104-84 – Metro State, 2001
The Big Sky
The 2024-25 Big Sky Conference basketball schedule will feature 10 teams in a mirror schedule format. Each team will play each other twice: once at home, and once away.
The BSC Basketball Championships will feature all teams in the conference with seeding based on the 18 conference games. The championships will take place March 8-9-10-11-12, 2025, at the Idaho Central Arena in Boise, Idaho. The tournament winners will receive an automatic berth to the NCAA Division I Basketball Championship.
2023-24 Review
The Bears finished the season with a trip to the Women's National Invitational Tournament where they lost in the first round to the University of Texas at San Antonio. Delaynie Byrne dropped 14 points on 5-for-16 shooting from the floor and hauled seven rebounds. Aniah Hall paced the team in blocks with two and added 12 points, 6 rebounds, and four assists. They finished with a 15-16 overall record and 5th in the BSC.
Up Next
The Bears will head to St. Paul, Minn. on Dec. 4 to take on St. Thomas in the first game of the Big Sky - Summit Challenge. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.
Follow the Bears
Fans can follow and stay up to date on all the Bear action online and on social media. Follow the Bears on X (formerly Twitter) (@UNC_BearsWBB), Instagram (@UNC_BearsWBB), and Facebook (/UNCBearsWBB). For complete coverage of UNC Athletics, check out the official homepage at uncbears.com.
About TicketSmarter.com
TicketSmarter® is a ticket resale marketplace and is not affiliated with Ticketmaster® or Live Nation®. TicketSmarter® is an online ticket marketplace and a proud member of the Digital Ally Companies (NASDAQ: DGLY). TicketSmarter® offers tickets to more than 125,000 live events ranging from concerts to sports and theatre shows.
TicketSmarter® is a primary and secondary ticketing solution for events and high-profile venues across North America including more than 300 professional sports teams and collegiate athletic departments. TicketSmarter® is also dedicated to giving back through contributions to charitable organizations.
100% Ticket Guarantee
All purchases are backed with a TicketSmarter® ticket guarantee. Have peace of mind knowing when you make your purchase for any sporting event, concert or theatre show that your tickets will be valid. You will receive a 100% refund if the event is canceled and not rescheduled. You will also receive a 100% refund if your order was accepted but the tickets were not delivered by the seller or shipped in time for the event. TicketSmarter® also provides a worry-free guarantee that your tickets will be valid upon entry. If they are not valid, we will provide you with a refund.
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