University of Northern Colorado Athletics
UNC Adds Four Transfers to Recruiting Class
4/20/2024 12:11:00 PM | Women's Basketball
GREELEY, Colo. – Northern Colorado women's basketball added height and athleticism to the 2024 recruiting class with the addition of four student-athletes from the transfer portal, head coach Kristen Mattio announced Friday.
Silvia Nativi, Julia Riley, Diana Saleh and Ella Van Weelden join the Bears after entering the transfer portal earlier this spring.
Nativi and Saleh carry one year of eligibility remaining to Greeley, while Riley and Van Weelden have two seasons available.
Silvia Nativi | 6-0 | Guard | Louisiana Tech | Marina Di Grosseto, Italy
During the 2023-24 season, Nativi started all 33 games for a total of 905 minutes and Averaged 5.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.4 assists a game. She Led the team with 112 assists and was third on the team in rebounds (123) and blocks (12).
"We are so excited to announce the signing of Silvia," Mattio said. "Silvia is a competitor; she plays the game with a lot of passion and her versatility on the court will allow us to use her in multiple ways. She is a strong guard that can shoot the 3-pointer, put it on the floor to score and post up in the paint."
Nativi finished the season fourth in assists per game in Conference USA and shot 44.4% from the field. She scored a career-high 17 points on 7-10 shooting and 3-4 from long range against Drake (11/24) and set a career-high 10 assists against Jacksonville State (2/15).
"She has excellent court vision and her ability to create for others will really help ignite our offense," Mattio said. "You won't find a young lady more enthusiastic and invested in her success on the court than Silvia."
Nativi grabbed a season-high eight rebounds against Richmond (11/26). She dished out three or more assists in 17 games, including 10 with at least five and six games with seven or more. She reached double figures in scoring five times and grabbed five or more rebounds 10 times, including a season-high 10 against Middle Tennessee (3/15).
"Silvia has played at all levels on her Italian national team," Mattio said. "It runs in the family, as her mom played professional basketball as well. Our Bear fans are going to really like watching Silvia go to battle on the court!"
Julia Riley | 6-1 | Forward | CSU Bakersfield | Granite Bay, Calif.
In two seasons with the Roadrunners, Riley appeared in 55 games. As a sophomore, she participated in 28 games, starting 12. Riley recorded a career-high in points with 21 vs CSUN (Feb. 15) and a career-high in rebounds with 10 against LBSU (Feb. 22).
"We couldn't be more thrilled to have Julia join our Bear family," Mattio said. "She is a versatile player with a strong basketball IQ. Julia can stretch the defense to the perimeter with her ability to shoot the 3-pointer. She can also put it on the floor and attack the rim."
Riley averaged 6.4 points and 3.7 rebounds in 21 minutes per game. She shot 40% from the field, 38% from 3-point range and 75% from the free throw line, all career highs.
"We love her ability to play inside as well as rebound the basketball," Mattio said. "She has a steady demeanor on the court but a competitive fire within to compete and win! Julia will really make an impact in our system and style of play and be a vital part of our future success."
Riley posted a career high 34 minutes played against Omaha (Nov. 27) and LBSU (Feb. 22).
"Bear fans are really going to love watching her play," Mattio said.
Diana Saleh | 6-3 | Forward | Lipscomb | Dearborn, Mich.
In 85 games over her four years in Nashville, Tennessee, Saleh appeared in 85 games. During the 2023-24 season, she played in a career-high 27 games, shooting 54.9% from the floor and 66.7% at the free-throw line.
"We are thrilled to add Diana to our program," Mattio said. "She adds depth to our already strong post presence. Her physicality inside the paint was what we were looking for. She is a mobile and athletic post player that will really thrive in the open court as well."
She posted season-highs in points, field-goals, field-goal attempts and steals at Atlantic Sun opponent Queens (N.C.) Feb. 1. She converted five of her six attempts from the field, finishing with 10 points, four rebounds, one block and two steals.
"Diana will provide an inside presence for us both offensively and defensively," Mattio said. "Her strength of rebounding will help solidify control of the paint."
Saleh grabbed a season best seven rebounds against North Florida (Feb. 10) and rejected two shots against Central Arkansas (Feb. 24). In the classroom, she is graduating with her nursing degree.
"She will flourish in our style of play and shine in our system," Mattio said. "Bear fans are going to love watching this post go to work next season!"
Ella Van Weelden | 6-2 | Guard| Valparaiso | Cedar Rapids, Iowa
During the 2023-24 season, Van Weelden appeared in 28 games for the Beacons. She averaged 2.2 points and 11 minutes per game. Shot 34 percent from the field and grabbed 59 total rebounds.
"We are so excited to announce the signing of Ella" Mattio said. "Ella has a great mind for the game of basketball. She can shoot the 3 and stretch the floor on the offensive end. She is mobile for her size, can play out of the dribble and will have the ability to defend multiple positions."
Van Weelden twice scored a season-high 12 points at Southern Illinois (Jan. 6) and versus Bradley (Jan. 21). Tallied a season-high six rebounds versus Chicago State (Dec. 12) and recorded a season-high three steals versus Evansville (Feb. 11).
"Ella is deeply passionate about her success on the court as well as thrives in the classroom off the court. Our Bear fans are going to really like watching Ella get on the floor this next season!"
Silvia Nativi, Julia Riley, Diana Saleh and Ella Van Weelden join the Bears after entering the transfer portal earlier this spring.
Nativi and Saleh carry one year of eligibility remaining to Greeley, while Riley and Van Weelden have two seasons available.
Silvia Nativi | 6-0 | Guard | Louisiana Tech | Marina Di Grosseto, Italy
During the 2023-24 season, Nativi started all 33 games for a total of 905 minutes and Averaged 5.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.4 assists a game. She Led the team with 112 assists and was third on the team in rebounds (123) and blocks (12).
"We are so excited to announce the signing of Silvia," Mattio said. "Silvia is a competitor; she plays the game with a lot of passion and her versatility on the court will allow us to use her in multiple ways. She is a strong guard that can shoot the 3-pointer, put it on the floor to score and post up in the paint."
Nativi finished the season fourth in assists per game in Conference USA and shot 44.4% from the field. She scored a career-high 17 points on 7-10 shooting and 3-4 from long range against Drake (11/24) and set a career-high 10 assists against Jacksonville State (2/15).
"She has excellent court vision and her ability to create for others will really help ignite our offense," Mattio said. "You won't find a young lady more enthusiastic and invested in her success on the court than Silvia."
Nativi grabbed a season-high eight rebounds against Richmond (11/26). She dished out three or more assists in 17 games, including 10 with at least five and six games with seven or more. She reached double figures in scoring five times and grabbed five or more rebounds 10 times, including a season-high 10 against Middle Tennessee (3/15).
"Silvia has played at all levels on her Italian national team," Mattio said. "It runs in the family, as her mom played professional basketball as well. Our Bear fans are going to really like watching Silvia go to battle on the court!"
Julia Riley | 6-1 | Forward | CSU Bakersfield | Granite Bay, Calif.
In two seasons with the Roadrunners, Riley appeared in 55 games. As a sophomore, she participated in 28 games, starting 12. Riley recorded a career-high in points with 21 vs CSUN (Feb. 15) and a career-high in rebounds with 10 against LBSU (Feb. 22).
"We couldn't be more thrilled to have Julia join our Bear family," Mattio said. "She is a versatile player with a strong basketball IQ. Julia can stretch the defense to the perimeter with her ability to shoot the 3-pointer. She can also put it on the floor and attack the rim."
Riley averaged 6.4 points and 3.7 rebounds in 21 minutes per game. She shot 40% from the field, 38% from 3-point range and 75% from the free throw line, all career highs.
"We love her ability to play inside as well as rebound the basketball," Mattio said. "She has a steady demeanor on the court but a competitive fire within to compete and win! Julia will really make an impact in our system and style of play and be a vital part of our future success."
Riley posted a career high 34 minutes played against Omaha (Nov. 27) and LBSU (Feb. 22).
"Bear fans are really going to love watching her play," Mattio said.
Diana Saleh | 6-3 | Forward | Lipscomb | Dearborn, Mich.
In 85 games over her four years in Nashville, Tennessee, Saleh appeared in 85 games. During the 2023-24 season, she played in a career-high 27 games, shooting 54.9% from the floor and 66.7% at the free-throw line.
"We are thrilled to add Diana to our program," Mattio said. "She adds depth to our already strong post presence. Her physicality inside the paint was what we were looking for. She is a mobile and athletic post player that will really thrive in the open court as well."
She posted season-highs in points, field-goals, field-goal attempts and steals at Atlantic Sun opponent Queens (N.C.) Feb. 1. She converted five of her six attempts from the field, finishing with 10 points, four rebounds, one block and two steals.
"Diana will provide an inside presence for us both offensively and defensively," Mattio said. "Her strength of rebounding will help solidify control of the paint."
Saleh grabbed a season best seven rebounds against North Florida (Feb. 10) and rejected two shots against Central Arkansas (Feb. 24). In the classroom, she is graduating with her nursing degree.
"She will flourish in our style of play and shine in our system," Mattio said. "Bear fans are going to love watching this post go to work next season!"
Ella Van Weelden | 6-2 | Guard| Valparaiso | Cedar Rapids, Iowa
During the 2023-24 season, Van Weelden appeared in 28 games for the Beacons. She averaged 2.2 points and 11 minutes per game. Shot 34 percent from the field and grabbed 59 total rebounds.
"We are so excited to announce the signing of Ella" Mattio said. "Ella has a great mind for the game of basketball. She can shoot the 3 and stretch the floor on the offensive end. She is mobile for her size, can play out of the dribble and will have the ability to defend multiple positions."
Van Weelden twice scored a season-high 12 points at Southern Illinois (Jan. 6) and versus Bradley (Jan. 21). Tallied a season-high six rebounds versus Chicago State (Dec. 12) and recorded a season-high three steals versus Evansville (Feb. 11).
"Ella is deeply passionate about her success on the court as well as thrives in the classroom off the court. Our Bear fans are going to really like watching Ella get on the floor this next season!"
Women's Walk Recap 2025
Wednesday, July 30
Head Coach Mattio, Neenah George, and London Gamble Post Game Press Conference vs Weber State
Wednesday, May 21
Coach Mattio, Silvia Nativi, and Gabi Fields Post Game Press Conference vs Northern Arizona
Wednesday, May 21
Coach Mattio, London Gamble, and April Rummery-Lamb Post Game Press Conference vs Portland State
Wednesday, May 21
