University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Friday, December 13
Denver, Colo.
6 p.m.
University of Northern Colorado
at
Denver
Photo by: Dean Popejoy
Women’s Basketball Travels to Denver for In-State Matchup
12/12/2024 8:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
GREELEY, Colo. - The University of Northern Colorado's women's basketball team will travel to the University of Denver on Friday, Dec. 13 to take on the Pioneers. The Bears (7-2, 0-0 BSC) and the Pioneers (4-5, 0-0 Summit) are scheduled to tipoff at 6:00 p.m. MT.
LIVE COVERAGE
A live stream will be available for the game provided by the University of Denver Athletic Communications department through Altitude 2 and the Summit League Network. Live stats will also be provided for fans to stay up to date, provided by the DU Athletic Communications department.
THE SERIES
This will be the 52nd time the two teams have played with the series starting in 1977. The Bears are undefeated against DU in the Mattio Era, posting a 3-0 record. The Bears are winning the overall series 29-23.
W, 59-56 - Greeley, 2024
W, 77-68 - Denver, 2022
W, 75-74 - Greeley, 2020
L, 55-74 - Denver, 2019
W, 74-66 - Greeley, 2018
SCOUTING THE PIONEERS
The Pioneers are 4-5 this season, going 4-1 at home and 0-4 on the road. They lost to in-state opponent Colorado on Tuesday night, 61-78, and beat fellow Big Sky member Portland State on Saturday, Dec. 7, 57-41 for their matchup in the Big Sky-Summit Challenge.
Denver is lead by junior guard Jordan Jones. Jones is averaging 19.2 points per game, ranking second in the Summit League. On top of being an offensive weapon, Jones is leading the way for the Pioneers on the defensive end by grabbing 8.2 boards and 1.4 steals each game.
Jones was name to the Preseason All-Summit League First Team ahead of the 2024-25 season.
Emma Smith, another junior guard, is also averaging double digit scoring for Denver. Smith, along with Jones, contributed six rebounds each in the loss to Colorado.
Head coach Doshia Woods is in her fifth season at the helm of the Pioneers. She holds a 41-81 record at DU. She is the 11th head women's basketball coach in the program's history.
THE MATTIO ERA
Head Coach Kristen Mattio enters her fourth season at the helm of Bears Women's Basketball. Under Mattio, the Bears are 50-52 since she took over the program in 2020. Mattio surpassed the 200th career victory mark in the overtime upset win against Big 12 opponent BYU on Nov. 23, 2024. Mattio is the first head coach to reach this mark at UNC in the Division I era. Mattio has led the Bears to top-25 rankings in the nation in the field goal percentage, forced turnovers, 3PT% (defense), and steals per game categories for the first time in program history. Mattio is currently seventh in program wins with 50 and is 9 wins away from claiming sixth.
LAST TIME OUT
The Bears won their sixth game in a row on Saturday in front of a home crowd. Ella Van Weelden led Northern Colorado with 12 points, including four-of-seven shooting from three-point range, while adding three rebounds and two assists. Aniah Hall was a force inside, contributing 12 points and six rebounds as she controlled the paint throughout the game. Off the bench, Diana Saleh made a notable impact with six points and two offensive rebounds, providing energy when the Bears needed it most. Lilah Moore chipped in eight points, four steals, and two rebounds, showcasing her two-way play and ability to make key plays on defense.
ON THIS DAY, DEC. 13
Friday's game marks the eighteenth time the Bears have played on this date and the first in the Mattio Era. UNC is 7-10 all time on Dec. 7.
W, 68-64 - Chattanooga, 2018
W, 90-47 - Colorado Christian, 2016
L, 51-74 - UTEP, 2011
L, 49-69 - UMKC, 2008
L, 57-85 - UTEP, 2005
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 make the long trip to the Lone Star State to face Lamar on Saturday, Dec. 21. Tipoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m in Beaumont, Texas.
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).
LIVE COVERAGE
A live stream will be available for the game provided by the University of Denver Athletic Communications department through Altitude 2 and the Summit League Network. Live stats will also be provided for fans to stay up to date, provided by the DU Athletic Communications department.
THE SERIES
This will be the 52nd time the two teams have played with the series starting in 1977. The Bears are undefeated against DU in the Mattio Era, posting a 3-0 record. The Bears are winning the overall series 29-23.
W, 59-56 - Greeley, 2024
W, 77-68 - Denver, 2022
W, 75-74 - Greeley, 2020
L, 55-74 - Denver, 2019
W, 74-66 - Greeley, 2018
SCOUTING THE PIONEERS
The Pioneers are 4-5 this season, going 4-1 at home and 0-4 on the road. They lost to in-state opponent Colorado on Tuesday night, 61-78, and beat fellow Big Sky member Portland State on Saturday, Dec. 7, 57-41 for their matchup in the Big Sky-Summit Challenge.
Denver is lead by junior guard Jordan Jones. Jones is averaging 19.2 points per game, ranking second in the Summit League. On top of being an offensive weapon, Jones is leading the way for the Pioneers on the defensive end by grabbing 8.2 boards and 1.4 steals each game.
Jones was name to the Preseason All-Summit League First Team ahead of the 2024-25 season.
Emma Smith, another junior guard, is also averaging double digit scoring for Denver. Smith, along with Jones, contributed six rebounds each in the loss to Colorado.
Head coach Doshia Woods is in her fifth season at the helm of the Pioneers. She holds a 41-81 record at DU. She is the 11th head women's basketball coach in the program's history.
THE MATTIO ERA
Head Coach Kristen Mattio enters her fourth season at the helm of Bears Women's Basketball. Under Mattio, the Bears are 50-52 since she took over the program in 2020. Mattio surpassed the 200th career victory mark in the overtime upset win against Big 12 opponent BYU on Nov. 23, 2024. Mattio is the first head coach to reach this mark at UNC in the Division I era. Mattio has led the Bears to top-25 rankings in the nation in the field goal percentage, forced turnovers, 3PT% (defense), and steals per game categories for the first time in program history. Mattio is currently seventh in program wins with 50 and is 9 wins away from claiming sixth.
LAST TIME OUT
The Bears won their sixth game in a row on Saturday in front of a home crowd. Ella Van Weelden led Northern Colorado with 12 points, including four-of-seven shooting from three-point range, while adding three rebounds and two assists. Aniah Hall was a force inside, contributing 12 points and six rebounds as she controlled the paint throughout the game. Off the bench, Diana Saleh made a notable impact with six points and two offensive rebounds, providing energy when the Bears needed it most. Lilah Moore chipped in eight points, four steals, and two rebounds, showcasing her two-way play and ability to make key plays on defense.
ON THIS DAY, DEC. 13
Friday's game marks the eighteenth time the Bears have played on this date and the first in the Mattio Era. UNC is 7-10 all time on Dec. 7.
W, 68-64 - Chattanooga, 2018
W, 90-47 - Colorado Christian, 2016
L, 51-74 - UTEP, 2011
L, 49-69 - UMKC, 2008
L, 57-85 - UTEP, 2005
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 make the long trip to the Lone Star State to face Lamar on Saturday, Dec. 21. Tipoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m in Beaumont, Texas.
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).
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballUNC Weekly Press Conference - Kristen Mattio (Mar 24)
Tuesday, March 24
Kristen Mattio and Tatum West WNIT Press Conference vs Air Force
Friday, March 20
UNC Weekly Press Conference - Kristen Mattio (Mar 17)
Tuesday, March 17
UNC Weekly Press Conference - Kristen Mattio (Mar 3)
Tuesday, March 03
