West & Gamble Highlight UNC’s Effort in Close Contest Against Idaho State

Saturday, January 4

Pocatello, Idaho

2 p.m.

University of Northern Colorado

7-6,0-2Big Sky

Idaho State

6-7,1-1Big Sky

Northern Colo.

Idaho St.

1/4/2025 4:33:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Final Game Book (PDF)

By: Brooke Richards, Assistant Director of Strategic Communications

POCATELLO, Idaho – Northern Colorado (7-6, 0-2 BSC) lost its second straight conference game Saturday, falling to Idaho State (6-7, 1-1 BSC) 50-58 at Reed Gym. Despite a strong second-quarter rally and solid performances from sophomore Tatum West and junior London Gamble, the Bears couldn't overcome offensive struggles or the Bengals' strong finish.

Top Performers
West led Northern Colorado with 10 points, nine rebounds, two assists, and two steals while making five-of-12 from the field. Gamble added 11 points, including a 3-pointer, along with one assist and a rebound. Off the bench, freshman Neenah George contributed six points, including two-of-two shooting from beyond the arc.

On defense, junior Aniah Hall was a standout for the Bears, finishing with 13 rebounds—six on the offensive glass—and a career high four blocks. Junior Gabi Fields added five steals along with four points.

Game Summary
Idaho State jumped out to a 22-14 lead after the first quarter, taking advantage of Northern Colorado's offensive struggles. The Bears shot 27.8% in the opening period and failed to hit a 3-pointer while the Bengals capitalized on fast-break opportunities.

Northern Colorado responded in the second quarter, tightening its defense and outscoring Idaho State 16-11. A mid-quarter run, highlighted by baskets from West and Gamble, brought the Bears within three at halftime, 33-30.

The third quarter featured a defensive battle as neither team could gain significant momentum. Idaho State edged UNC 12-10 in the period, with Jordan and Spink providing timely scores to maintain the Bengals' slim lead.

In the fourth quarter, the Bears battled back, with Ella Van Weelden hitting a 3-pointer and West converting second-chance opportunities. However, Covello's late 3-pointer and the Bengals' defense stifled Northern Colorado's comeback attempt.

Key Stats

Shooting struggles: Northern Colorado shot 29% from the field and 15.8% (3-of-19) from 3-point range. ISU fared better, shooting 39.3% overall and 28.6% (4-of-14) from beyond the arc.
Rebounding edge: Idaho State outrebounded Northern Colorado 45-40, including 14 offensive rebounds that led to 15 second-chance points.
Turnovers: Northern Colorado committed 13 turnovers, leading to 17 points for Idaho State. The Bengals turned the ball over 16 times.
Bench impact: Northern Colorado's bench outscored Idaho State's 19-14, with George leading the way.

Idaho State Leaders
The Bengals were paced by Tasia Jordan, who scored 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting and added eight rebounds, six blocks, and two steals. Kacey Spink recorded 10 points, seven rebounds, and three assists, while Maria Dias tallied 10 points and two assists. Sophia Covello added nine points, including a key 3-pointer in the fourth quarter.

Up Next
Northern Colorado will return home Thursday, Jan. 9 to host Montana State in search of its first Big Sky win of the season. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Bank of Colorado Arena.

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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