Women's Basketball Wins Game One of Big Sky-Summit Challenge

Wednesday, December 4

St. Paul, Minn.

6 p.m.

University of Northern Colorado

6-2,0-0Big Sky

St. Thomas

6-3,0-0Summit League

Northern Colo.

St. Thomas (MN)

Photo by: Abby Bondi, St. Thomas Athletics

12/4/2024 8:51:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Final Game Book (PDF)

By: Brooke Richards, Assistant Director of Strategic Communications

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Northern Colorado put on a defensive clinic Wednesday night, securing a 62-54 victory over St. Thomas in the Big Sky-Summit Challenge. The win highlighted the Bears' balanced effort as they improved to 6-2 on the season.

Top Performers
Tatum West led Northern Colorado with 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting, along with five rebounds and a steal in 34 minutes of playing time. Aniah Hall added 13 points and six rebounds, connecting on five-of-six free throws. Ella Van Weelden contributed 14 points, including four 3-pointers, and grabbed six rebounds. Gabi Fields added nine points, five assists, five rebounds, and two steals, providing key support on both ends of the court. April Rummery-Lamb added six points and two rebounds off the bench.

Game Summary
The first quarter was a tightly contested battle as both teams traded baskets. West and Hall controlled the paint for Northern Colorado, with West driving in a critical layup to keep the Bears in the mix. the Tommies responded with an inside attack led by Amber Scalia, who tallied six points in the quarter. The period ended in a 16-16 tie.

Northern Colorado took control in the second quarter, holding St. Thomas to just two points with the Bears' defense forcing six turnovers. Fields' second chance layup to start the quarter fueled an 11-0 run that allowed Northern Colorado to take a commanding 27-18 lead into halftime.

St. Thomas regained momentum in the third quarter, outscoring the Bears 20-16. Jo Langbehn powered the Tommies' offense, scoring nine points in the frame, while Scalia added four. Despite the push, Van Weelden hit four-of-four 3-pointers to preserve a 43-38 lead heading into the final period.

In the fourth quarter, the Bears' balanced attack and poise secured the win. West scored seven points, including a crucial and-one layup in the closing minutes to extend the lead to ten. Hall and Fields delivered timely plays on both ends, and Van Weelden's shooting helped keep St. Thomas at bay. The Bears' defense stepped up in the final minutes, forcing tough shots and grabbing key rebounds to seal the victory.

Key Stats

Shooting: UNC shot 45.8% from the field and 38.5% from 3-point range.
Defense: The Bears forced 17 turnovers and converted them into 12 points.
Bench Points: UNC's reserves contributed 20 points, showcasing the team's depth.

St. Thomas Leaders
Langbehn posted a game-high 19 points, shooting 7-of-10 from the field and adding five rebounds. Scalia scored 19 points and grabbed three rebounds, while Sammy Opichka finished with eight points and six boards.

Big Sky-Summit Challenge
The two leagues will be playing for a combined trophy for the second season in a row. Both men's and women's results will be equally considered from 36 total games.

Most programs will play one home game and one away game. Due to an uneven number of members between the two conferences, four Big Sky programs will only participate in one game.

2023-24 – Summit League (via tiebreaker)

Up Next
UNC will host North Dakota on Saturday, Dec. 7 for game two of the Big Sky – Summit Challenge and Ugly Sweater / Toys for Tots night. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Bank of Colorado Arena. Fans are encouraged to wear an ugly sweater or bring a new toy for donation; by doing so, fans will receive a $5 (plus fees) general admission ticket to the game.

For complete coverage of UNC Athletics, check out the official homepage at uncbears.com. Follow the women's basketball team X (formerly Twitter) (@UNC_BearsWBB), Instagram (@UNC_BearsWBB), and Facebook (/UNCBearsWBB).

To purchase tickets, visit uncbears.com/tickets or call 970-351-4849. Tickets can also be purchased at the Campus Commons Ticket Office, Monday-Friday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. TicketSmarter is the official resale marketplace of UNC athletics.

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