Bears Drop Road Game to NAU, 52-68

Saturday, February 1

Flagstaff, Ariz.

2 p.m.

University of Northern Colorado

9-11,2-7Big Sky

Northern Arizona

17-5,8-1Big Sky

Northern Colo.

Northern Ariz.

Photo by: Dean Popejoy

2/1/2025 4:21:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Final Game Book (PDF)

Saleh and George lead with 10 points each

By: Brooke Richards, Assistant Director of Strategic Communications

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The Northern Colorado women's basketball team (9-11, 2-7 Big Sky) fell to Northern Arizona (17-5, 8-1 Big Sky) in a 52-68 road loss on Saturday afternoon at Findlay Toyota Court in Flagstaff, Ariz.

TOP PERFORMERS
Lipscomb transfer center Diana Saleh led the Bears with 10 points on an efficient 5-of-6 shooting while grabbing four rebounds. Freshman guard Neenah George added 10 points of her own, knocking down a three-pointer and going 3-for-6 from the free-throw line. Junior guard Silvia Nativi chipped in nine points, hitting three three-pointers on four attempts. Junior guard London Gamble and sophomore forward Tatum West each contributed four rebounds, while April Rummery-Lamb provided a spark off the bench with four points and three rebounds.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Nativi got the Bears rolling with a deep three-pointer, setting the tone for a back-and-forth first quarter. Northern Colorado's defense held firm, forcing tough shots and limiting Northern Arizona's perimeter success. Freshman Claire Fraser's second chance layup midway through the period gave UNC a four-point edge, but the Lumberjacks responded with a late triple to even the score at 14-14 heading into the second quarter.

Saleh took over in the second quarter, scoring on consecutive post moves to keep the Bears within striking distance. Nativi stayed hot from beyond the arc, drilling her third three-pointer of the half to cut the deficit to 25-23. Despite UNC's efficient shooting, Northern Arizona capitalized on second-chance points and free throws to take a 34-31 lead into halftime.

NAU's Sophie Glancey took over in the third quarter, scoring three consecutive layups to spark the Lumberjacks' offense. The Bears responded with layups from Saleh and West, followed by a three-pointer and a free throw from freshman Neenah George. Despite UNC's efforts, Northern Arizona began to pull away, building their largest lead of the game at 11 points.

Northern Arizona controlled the fourth quarter, steadily extending their lead behind strong inside play and defensive stops. The Bears struggled offensively, going scoreless from the field for the final 3:52. Neenah George and April Rummery-Lamb provided some late free throws, but Northern Colorado couldn't overcome NAU's efficient scoring and rebounding. The Lumberjacks sealed the game at the line, maintaining a comfortable margin to close out the win 68-52.

KEY STATS
Bench Points: Northern Colorado's bench contributed 29 points, while Northern Arizona's reserves added 27.
Turnovers: The Bears committed 14 turnovers, leading to 12 points for the Lumberjacks.
Rebounding: UNC held a slight edge on the boards, outrebounding NAU 36-34, including 13 offensive rebounds that led to 17 second-chance points.

NORTHERN ARIZONA LEADERS
Sophie Glancey led all scorers with 22 points on 9-of-14 shooting while adding five rebounds. Taylor Feldman contributed 11 points, dished out six assists, and recorded two steals. Ava Schmidt added nine points and grabbed five rebounds, while Olivia Moran led the team on the boards with seven rebounds.

UP NEXT
Northern Colorado will host a Monday night rematch against Idaho State (7-11, 2-5 BSC), with tip off scheduled for 6 p.m. The game will be a Pink Out, with fans encouraged to wear pink and receive a $5 ticket at the gate (plus fees). The women's basketball team will also be selling their pink game-worn jerseys for $150 each.

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).

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.

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.com
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.

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.

100% Ticket Guarantee
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.