Bears Rally Late to Stun Eastern Washington

Thursday, February 20

Cheney, Wash.

7 p.m.

University of Northern Colorado

13-13,6-9Big Sky

Eastern Washington

10-16,6-8Big Sky

Northern Colo.

Eastern Wash.

Photo by: Kassidy Schwartz, UNC Athletics

2/20/2025 9:21:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Final Game Book (PDF)

UNC Closes on 15-0 Run to Complete Comeback Victory

By: Brooke Richards, Assistant Director of Strategic Communications

CHENEY, Wash. – Northern Colorado delivered a thrilling comeback to secure its first road conference win of the 2024-25 season, defeating Eastern Washington 50-46 on Thursday night at Reese Court. The Bears (13-13, 6-9 Big Sky) closed the game on a dominant 15-0 run over the final 5:27, stifling the Eagles (10-16, 6-8 Big Sky) down the stretch to complete the comeback.

TOP PERFORMERS
Neenah George was the hero of the fourth quarter, scoring all seven of her points in the final period, including a clutch three-pointer that helped spark UNC's comeback. Aniah Hall led the Bears in scoring with 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting while adding six rebounds and two assists. Tatum West provided a strong presence inside, contributing nine points and seven boards. Gabi Fields controlled the tempo, dishing out a team-best six assists to go along with six points and four steals.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The first quarter was a back-and-forth battle, with neither team able to gain a decisive edge. Hall got the Bears going with an early layup, but Eastern Washington responded with an inside presence of its own, edging ahead 14-13 after 10 minutes.

The defenses took over in the second quarter, as both teams struggled to find rhythm. UNC held EWU to just six points in the period but managed only nine of its own to take a slim 22-20 lead into halftime.

Eastern Washington came out firing in the third, using an 8-0 spurt to regain control and build a 38-33 lead heading into the final frame. The Eagles extended their advantage to 46-35 with just over five minutes remaining, putting the Bears on the ropes.

Northern Colorado flipped the switch defensively and dominated the closing stretch. Fields and Hall jump-started the comeback with key baskets, while George buried a clutch three-pointer to pull UNC within two. The Bears forced a series of turnovers and took the lead on a pair of free throws from Fields with under a minute to play. Silvia Nativi sealed the victory with a pair of free throws, capping off a 15-0 run to stun the home crowd and secure the win.

KEY STATS

Clutch Scoring: Neenah George scored all seven of her points in the fourth quarter.
Defensive Stand: UNC held Eastern Washington scoreless over the final 5:27.
Bench Impact: The Bears' reserves outscored EWU's bench 14-10.
Paint Presence: UNC controlled the interior with 32 points in the paint.
Playmaking: The Bears dished out 12 assists while forcing 17 Eastern Washington turnovers.

UP NEXT
The Bears will close out their road trip with a stop in Moscow, Idaho to play the Vandals on Saturday at 3 p.m.

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.

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