Bears Drop Heartbreaker in Sacramento

Saturday, January 18

Sacramento, Calif.

3 p.m.

University of Northern Colorado

8-9,1-5Big Sky

Sacramento State

9-9,2-3Big Sky

Northern Colo.

Sacramento St.

1/18/2025 5:43:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Brooke Richards, Assistant Director of Strategic Communications

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Despite a strong showing from London Gamble, who led the Bears with 10 points, Northern Colorado (8-9, 1-5 BSC) narrowly fell to Sacramento State (9-9, 2-3 BSC), 51-48, in a heart-stopping matchup at The Nest. The Bears held the lead for much of the game, but a fourth-quarter rally from the Hornets sealed their fate.

TOP PERFORMERS
London Gamble led Northern Colorado with 10 points, shooting 2-of-3 from beyond the arc and adding two rebounds. Tatum West chipped in seven points and six rebounds, while Ella Van Weelden contributed eight points and three steals. Gabi Fields rounded out the top performers with eight points, two rebounds, four assists, ad six steals providing steady play throughout the game.

GAME SUMMARY
Northern Colorado started strong, with Gamble quickly finding her rhythm. Gamble scored seven of the Bears' first 18 points, including a smooth step-back jumper and a three-pointer to keep UNC ahead. Fields complemented her efforts with six points, including a couple three-pointer's of her own. The Bears converted turnovers into points and held their own on the boards, narrowly leading 18-17 after an evenly matched quarter.

The Bears extended their lead in the second quarter, fueled by back-to-back three-pointers from Van Weelden and Julia Riley. Gamble continued to facilitate the offense, while Fields contributed timely assists. Sacramento State responded with a 6-0 run late in the quarter, led by Jaydia Martin's aggressive play in the paint, but Northern Colorado entered halftime up 36-30, maintaining control with consistent defensive pressure.

UNC came out of the break with energy, building their largest lead of the game at 12 points midway through the quarter. Gamble remained the driving force, knocking down another three and creating opportunities for teammates like West, who added crucial points in the paint. However, the Hornets tightened up defensively and began chipping away at the deficit. Martin and Lina Falk combined for key baskets late in the period, cutting UNC's lead to 47-41 heading into the fourth.

The Bears struggled offensively in the final frame, scoring just one point on a free throw by Aniah Hall. The Hornets, on the other hand, gained momentum behind clutch shooting from Falk and Martin, with Martin's late three-pointer bringing them within striking distance. A critical defensive stop and subsequent free throws by Martin gave Sacramento State their first lead since the first quarter. UNC's last-second attempts to tie the game fell short, and the Hornets escaped with a 51-48 victory.

KEY STATS
Bench Points: Northern Colorado's bench outscored Sacramento State's reserves 16-14, led by Van Weelden and Riley.
Points off Turnovers: UNC forced 21 turnovers and converted them into 21 points, while Sacramento State scored 20 points off UNC's 20 turnovers.
Second-Chance Points: The Bears dominated the boards, scoring 12 second-chance points compared to just two for the Hornets.
Three-Point Shooting: Northern Colorado shot an impressive 36.8% from beyond the arc (7-of-19), while Sacramento State hit 36.4% (4-of-11).

Sacramento State Leaders
Jaydia Martin led the Hornets with a double-double, scoring 14 points and grabbing nine rebounds while adding two steals. Madison Butcher provided a spark off the bench with 14 points, including a critical three-pointer in the fourth quarter. Lina Falk contributed 12 points, including a perfect 5-of-6 from the free-throw line, and added five rebounds.

Up Next
Northern Colorado will return to Greeley, Colo., to host Idaho and Eastern Washington on Thursday, Jan. 23 and Saturday, Jan. 25 with tipoff schedule for 6 p.m. and 2 p.m.

Big Sky Conference Championship Tickets
Tickets for the 2025 Big Sky Basketball Championships, presented by Idaho Central Credit Union, are on sale now.

The men's and women's basketball tournaments will be hosted at Idaho Central Arena on March 8-12, marking the seventh straight year that Starch Madness will be held in Boise, Idaho.

Fans can purchase all-tournament, all-session ticket packages for both the men's and women's sessions for courtside, reserved, and general admission seating.

Single-session tickets will be available for purchase Monday, Feb. 3. 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.

Follow the Bears
Fans can follow and stay up to date on all the Bear action at uncbears.com and on social media. Follow the Bears on 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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