University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Thursday, January 9
Greeley, Colo.
6 p.m.
University of Northern Colorado
vs
Montana State
Photo by: Kassidy Schwartz, UNC Athletics
Bears Open Home Big Sky Slate with Faith and Family Night, Unified Basketball Celebration
1/7/2025 8:44:00 AM | Women's Basketball
GREELEY, Colo. - The Northern Colorado women's basketball team (7-6, 0-2 BSC) kicks off its home slate with two games at the Bank of Colorado Arena. The Bears will host Montana State (12-2, 2-0 BSC) on Thursday, Jan. 9, at 6 p.m. for Faith and Family Night, followed by a matchup against Montana (5-8, 1-1 BSC) on Saturday, Jan. 11, at 2 p.m.
Saturday's game features Unified Basketball Day, celebrating individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Halftime will include a showcase of their skills, along with opportunities to learn how to support their futures in the community.
SCOUTING THE BOBCATS
The Montana State Bobcats are off to a strong start this season with a 12-2 overall record, including a perfect 7-0 mark at home and 2-0 in conference play. They opened Big Sky action with wins against Idaho and Eastern Washington. The Bobcats, who were picked to finish in the top tier of the Big Sky standings, are aiming to maintain their dominance under long-time head coach Tricia Binford.
Sophomore Marah Dykstra has been a key contributor, leading the team with 14.5 points per game on an efficient .517 shooting from the field. Senior guard Esmeralda Morales is close behind, averaging 13.6 points and leading the team in minutes played at nearly 30 per game. Junior forward Katelynn Martin has also been a force on the boards, averaging 5.5 rebounds alongside her 11 points per game.
Tricia Binford, now in her 19th season as head coach, has cemented her legacy as the winningest coach in program history with 329 career victories at MSU. She has guided the Bobcats to five Big Sky Tournament titles and multiple NCAA Tournament appearances, including an unmatched 19-1 conference record in 2019-20. Known for her emphasis on academics and community involvement, Binford has established the Bobcats as a model program in the Big Sky and beyond.
LIVE COVERAGE
A live stream will be available for the game provided by the University of Northern Colorado's Bear Vision department through ESPN+. Fans can purchase a subscription at plus.espn.com. Live stats will also be provided for fans to stay up to date, provided by the UNC Strategic Communications department.
THE SERIES
Thursday's game will be the 40th time the two teams have met with the series dating back to 1980. Head coach Kristen Mattio holds a 2-5 record against the Bobcats. MSU holds a 22-17 edge over UNC.
L, 44-47 - Boise, 2024
L, 40-61 - Bozeman, 2024Â
W, 58-53 - Greeley, 2024
L, 60-80 - Greeley, 2023
L, 40-61 - Bozeman, 2023
ON THIS DAY, JAN. 9
Thursday's game marks the fourteenth time the Bears have played on this date and the first in the Mattio Era. UNC is 9-4 all time on Jan. 9 and 3-2 at home.
2021, at Montana State - W, 57-49
2020, Weber State - L, 60-65
2016, Weber State - W, 65-63
2014, at Weber State - W, 68-49
2010, at Idaho State - L, 65-74
SCOUTING THE LADY GRIZ
The Lady Griz are 5-8 this season and were selected to finish fourth in the 2024-25 Big Sky Coaches Poll and fifth in the Media Poll. Montana closed the 2023-24 campaign with a 13-5 conference record, finishing third in the Big Sky and advancing to the WNIT second round after defeating Boise State. They set a program record with 357 made three-pointers last season.
Montana is led by junior guard Mack Konig, who averages 11.7 points per game and 5.5 assists. Freshman forward Avery Waddington has been a key contributor, averaging 8.4 points and a team-high 5.8 rebounds per game while shooting 49.4% from the field. Adding to the offensive production is junior forward Dani Bartsch, who is scoring 8.2 points per game and leads the team with 25 three-pointers this season.
Brian Holsinger is in his fourth season as head coach of the Lady Griz. Hired in April 2021 after serving as associate head coach at Oregon State, Holsinger has transformed the program, compiling a 56-37 overall record. His tenure includes a 23-win season in 2023-24, the program's first 20-win season since 2016, and its first national postseason win since 2015. Under his leadership, Montana has produced multiple All-Big Sky honorees and achieved milestones like finishing second nationally in three-pointers made per game last year. Holsinger is the fourth head coach in program history.
LIVE COVERAGE
A live stream will be available for the game provided by the University of Northern Colorado's Bear Vision department through ESPN+. Fans can purchase a subscription at plus.espn.com. Live stats will also be provided for fans to stay up to date, provided by the UNC Strategic Communications department.
THE SERIES
Saturday's game will be the 40th time the two teams have met with the series dating back to 2007. Head coach Kristen Mattio holds a 2-4 record against the Griz, bu th Griz hold a 16-23 overall record over the Bears.
W, 72-64 - Greeley, 2022
L. 60-82 - Missoula, 2023
L, 61-78 - Greeley, 2023
W, 67-57 - Greeley, 2024
L, 73-82 - Missoula, 2024
ON THIS DAY, JAN. 11
Saturday's game marks the eighteenth time the Bears have played on this date and the first in the Mattio Era. UNC is 5-12 all time on Jan. 11 and 2-3 at home.
2021, Montana - W, 67-57
2018, at Weber State - L, 73-82
2014, at Idaho State - W, 62-55
2009, at Columbi - L, 74-77
2007, at Northern Arizona - L, 45-79
THE MATTIO ERA
Head Coach Kristen Mattio enters her fourth season at the helm of Bears Women's Basketball. Under Mattio, the Bears are 50-54 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
Northern Colorado fell 58-50 to Idaho State on Saturday, dropping to 0-2 in Big Sky play. Tatum West led the Bears with 10 points, nine rebounds, two assists, and two steals, while London Gamble added 11 points. Aniah Hall anchored the defense with a career-high 13 rebounds and four blocks, and Neenah George chipped in six points off the bench.
After trailing 22-14 in the first quarter, UNC rallied to pull within three at halftime, 33-30. However, shooting struggles (29% from the field, 15.8% from deep) and a late Idaho State surge, capped by Covello's clutch 3-pointer, stifled the Bears' comeback attempt.
NET RANKINGS
The Bears are currently ranked 181th in the NET rankings, which are used for NCAA tournament selection. These rankings focus on team performance, factoring in wins over quality opponents and efficiency adjusted for game location and strength of competition. While the rankings are still stabilizing as more games are played, they provide an important early snapshot of a team's position heading into the selection process.
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 Bears are currently standing in eigth after the first week of conference play. Â
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 travel west for a pair of conference games at Portland State and Sacramento State. Tipoff against PSU is scheduled for 8 p.m. at Viking Pavilion in Portland, Ore. Tipoff at Sac. State is set for 3 p.m. at The Nest in Sacramento, Calif.
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).
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.Â
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.
About TicketSmarter.comÂ
TicketSmarter® is a ticket resale marketplace and is not affiliated with Ticketmaster® or Live Nation®. TicketSmarter® is an online ticket marketplace and a proud member of the Digital Ally Companies (NASDAQ: DGLY). TicketSmarter® offers tickets to more than 125,000 live events ranging from concerts to sports and theatre shows. Â
TicketSmarter® is a primary and secondary ticketing solution for events and high-profile venues across North America including more than 300 professional sports teams and collegiate athletic departments. TicketSmarter® is also dedicated to giving back through contributions to charitable organizations.Â
Â
100% Ticket GuaranteeÂ
All purchases are backed with a TicketSmarter® ticket guarantee. Have peace of mind knowing when you make your purchase for any sporting event, concert or theatre show that your tickets will be valid. You will receive a 100% refund if the event is canceled and not rescheduled. You will also receive a 100% refund if your order was accepted but the tickets were not delivered by the seller or shipped in time for the event. TicketSmarter® also provides a worry-free guarantee that your tickets will be valid upon entry. If they are not valid, we will provide you with a refund.
Â
Saturday's game features Unified Basketball Day, celebrating individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Halftime will include a showcase of their skills, along with opportunities to learn how to support their futures in the community.
SCOUTING THE BOBCATS
The Montana State Bobcats are off to a strong start this season with a 12-2 overall record, including a perfect 7-0 mark at home and 2-0 in conference play. They opened Big Sky action with wins against Idaho and Eastern Washington. The Bobcats, who were picked to finish in the top tier of the Big Sky standings, are aiming to maintain their dominance under long-time head coach Tricia Binford.
Sophomore Marah Dykstra has been a key contributor, leading the team with 14.5 points per game on an efficient .517 shooting from the field. Senior guard Esmeralda Morales is close behind, averaging 13.6 points and leading the team in minutes played at nearly 30 per game. Junior forward Katelynn Martin has also been a force on the boards, averaging 5.5 rebounds alongside her 11 points per game.
Tricia Binford, now in her 19th season as head coach, has cemented her legacy as the winningest coach in program history with 329 career victories at MSU. She has guided the Bobcats to five Big Sky Tournament titles and multiple NCAA Tournament appearances, including an unmatched 19-1 conference record in 2019-20. Known for her emphasis on academics and community involvement, Binford has established the Bobcats as a model program in the Big Sky and beyond.
LIVE COVERAGE
A live stream will be available for the game provided by the University of Northern Colorado's Bear Vision department through ESPN+. Fans can purchase a subscription at plus.espn.com. Live stats will also be provided for fans to stay up to date, provided by the UNC Strategic Communications department.
THE SERIES
Thursday's game will be the 40th time the two teams have met with the series dating back to 1980. Head coach Kristen Mattio holds a 2-5 record against the Bobcats. MSU holds a 22-17 edge over UNC.
L, 44-47 - Boise, 2024
L, 40-61 - Bozeman, 2024Â
W, 58-53 - Greeley, 2024
L, 60-80 - Greeley, 2023
L, 40-61 - Bozeman, 2023
ON THIS DAY, JAN. 9
Thursday's game marks the fourteenth time the Bears have played on this date and the first in the Mattio Era. UNC is 9-4 all time on Jan. 9 and 3-2 at home.
2021, at Montana State - W, 57-49
2020, Weber State - L, 60-65
2016, Weber State - W, 65-63
2014, at Weber State - W, 68-49
2010, at Idaho State - L, 65-74
SCOUTING THE LADY GRIZ
The Lady Griz are 5-8 this season and were selected to finish fourth in the 2024-25 Big Sky Coaches Poll and fifth in the Media Poll. Montana closed the 2023-24 campaign with a 13-5 conference record, finishing third in the Big Sky and advancing to the WNIT second round after defeating Boise State. They set a program record with 357 made three-pointers last season.
Montana is led by junior guard Mack Konig, who averages 11.7 points per game and 5.5 assists. Freshman forward Avery Waddington has been a key contributor, averaging 8.4 points and a team-high 5.8 rebounds per game while shooting 49.4% from the field. Adding to the offensive production is junior forward Dani Bartsch, who is scoring 8.2 points per game and leads the team with 25 three-pointers this season.
Brian Holsinger is in his fourth season as head coach of the Lady Griz. Hired in April 2021 after serving as associate head coach at Oregon State, Holsinger has transformed the program, compiling a 56-37 overall record. His tenure includes a 23-win season in 2023-24, the program's first 20-win season since 2016, and its first national postseason win since 2015. Under his leadership, Montana has produced multiple All-Big Sky honorees and achieved milestones like finishing second nationally in three-pointers made per game last year. Holsinger is the fourth head coach in program history.
LIVE COVERAGE
A live stream will be available for the game provided by the University of Northern Colorado's Bear Vision department through ESPN+. Fans can purchase a subscription at plus.espn.com. Live stats will also be provided for fans to stay up to date, provided by the UNC Strategic Communications department.
THE SERIES
Saturday's game will be the 40th time the two teams have met with the series dating back to 2007. Head coach Kristen Mattio holds a 2-4 record against the Griz, bu th Griz hold a 16-23 overall record over the Bears.
W, 72-64 - Greeley, 2022
L. 60-82 - Missoula, 2023
L, 61-78 - Greeley, 2023
W, 67-57 - Greeley, 2024
L, 73-82 - Missoula, 2024
ON THIS DAY, JAN. 11
Saturday's game marks the eighteenth time the Bears have played on this date and the first in the Mattio Era. UNC is 5-12 all time on Jan. 11 and 2-3 at home.
2021, Montana - W, 67-57
2018, at Weber State - L, 73-82
2014, at Idaho State - W, 62-55
2009, at Columbi - L, 74-77
2007, at Northern Arizona - L, 45-79
THE MATTIO ERA
Head Coach Kristen Mattio enters her fourth season at the helm of Bears Women's Basketball. Under Mattio, the Bears are 50-54 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
Northern Colorado fell 58-50 to Idaho State on Saturday, dropping to 0-2 in Big Sky play. Tatum West led the Bears with 10 points, nine rebounds, two assists, and two steals, while London Gamble added 11 points. Aniah Hall anchored the defense with a career-high 13 rebounds and four blocks, and Neenah George chipped in six points off the bench.
After trailing 22-14 in the first quarter, UNC rallied to pull within three at halftime, 33-30. However, shooting struggles (29% from the field, 15.8% from deep) and a late Idaho State surge, capped by Covello's clutch 3-pointer, stifled the Bears' comeback attempt.
NET RANKINGS
The Bears are currently ranked 181th in the NET rankings, which are used for NCAA tournament selection. These rankings focus on team performance, factoring in wins over quality opponents and efficiency adjusted for game location and strength of competition. While the rankings are still stabilizing as more games are played, they provide an important early snapshot of a team's position heading into the selection process.
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 Bears are currently standing in eigth after the first week of conference play. Â
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 travel west for a pair of conference games at Portland State and Sacramento State. Tipoff against PSU is scheduled for 8 p.m. at Viking Pavilion in Portland, Ore. Tipoff at Sac. State is set for 3 p.m. at The Nest in Sacramento, Calif.
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).
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.Â
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.
About TicketSmarter.comÂ
TicketSmarter® is a ticket resale marketplace and is not affiliated with Ticketmaster® or Live Nation®. TicketSmarter® is an online ticket marketplace and a proud member of the Digital Ally Companies (NASDAQ: DGLY). TicketSmarter® offers tickets to more than 125,000 live events ranging from concerts to sports and theatre shows. Â
TicketSmarter® is a primary and secondary ticketing solution for events and high-profile venues across North America including more than 300 professional sports teams and collegiate athletic departments. TicketSmarter® is also dedicated to giving back through contributions to charitable organizations.Â
Â
100% Ticket GuaranteeÂ
All purchases are backed with a TicketSmarter® ticket guarantee. Have peace of mind knowing when you make your purchase for any sporting event, concert or theatre show that your tickets will be valid. You will receive a 100% refund if the event is canceled and not rescheduled. You will also receive a 100% refund if your order was accepted but the tickets were not delivered by the seller or shipped in time for the event. TicketSmarter® also provides a worry-free guarantee that your tickets will be valid upon entry. If they are not valid, we will provide you with a refund.
Â
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballWomen'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
