Career-Best Performance by Gamble Highlights UNC’s Battle Against Montana State

Thursday, January 9

Greeley, Colo.

6 p.m.

University of Northern Colorado

7-7,0-3Big Sky

Montana State

13-2,3-0Big Sky

Montana St.

Northern Colo.

Photo by: Kassidy Schwartz, UNC Athletics

1/9/2025 8:51:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Coach Mattio & London Gamble Presser Final Game Book (PDF)

By: Brooke Richards, Assistant Director of Strategic Communications

GREELEY, Colo. – Northern Colorado (7-7, 0-3 BSC) dropped its third consecutive Big Sky game Saturday, falling to Montana State (13-2, 3-0 BSC) 57-68 at Bank of Colorado Arena. Despite a career-best performance by junior guard London Gamble, the Bears couldn't overcome a dominant second-half run by the Bobcats.

Top Performers
Gamble led all scorers with a career-high 24 points, shooting 11-of-18 from the field and adding two steals and one assist. Sophomore forward Tatum West contributed across the board with five points, six rebounds, and four assists, while redshirt junior Ella Van Weelden added six points, including two 3-pointers.

On defense, junior forward Aniah Hall stood out with a game-high nine rebounds, including five offensive boards, and two assists.

Game Summary
Northern Colorado opened strong, edging Montana State 17-16 in the first quarter, behind efficient shooting (63.6%) and a balanced attack. However, a 21-9 third-quarter surge by Montana State proved decisive, as the Bears struggled offensively, shooting just 30.8% from the field in the period.

Despite a late rally led by Gamble, the Bobcats maintained control with timely shots and second-chance opportunities. Montana State outscored UNC in points off turnovers (24-12) and held a 15-11 edge in second-chance points.

Key Stats
Shooting Efficiency: UNC shot 47.9% from the field, including 33.3% from beyond the arc. Montana State finished at 50% overall and 37.5% from three.

Rebounding Battle: Montana State outrebounded UNC 26-23.

Turnovers: Northern Colorado committed 23 turnovers, leading to 24 points for the Bobcats.

Montana State Leaders
Marah Dykstra paced Montana State with 15 points and five rebounds, while Lexi Deden added 13 points and four rebounds. Esmeralda Morales contributed 15 points, four rebounds, and three assists.

Up Next
The Bears will finish their weekend at home with a game against Montana. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 11 at the Bank of Colorado Arena. The Bears are hosting Unified Basketball Day, supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Join us to watch these athletes showcase their skills at halftime and learn how to support their futures in the community!

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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