PREVIEW: Bears Head to Bozeman for Monday Night Showdown

Monday, January 19

Bozeman, Mont.

7 p.m. MST

University of Northern Colorado

Montana State

Ally McCutchen | UNC Athletics

1/18/2026 10:59:00 AM | Women's Basketball

By: Elian Soto, Assistant Director of Strategic Communications

GREELEY, Colo. – Northern Colorado women's basketball is back on the road for a quick conference turnaround, traveling to Bozeman to take on Montana State for the second time in Big Sky play on Monday, January 19, inside Brick Breeden Fieldhouse. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. MST.

The Bears enter game 20 of the season riding a strong wave of momentum after earning five consecutive conference victories. UNC holds a 14-5 overall record and sits at an impressive 5-1 mark in Big Sky play as they look to continue climbing the standings.

FEED THE BEARS
Northern Colorado has continued to showcase its depth and unselfishness on the offensive end. Since the start of conference play, multiple Bears have reached double figures in scoring, highlighting a balanced attack and strong ball movement. The Bears ability to share the ball offensively has been a key factor in their success.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE WEST
Junior forward Tatum West has consistently made her presence felt on both ends of the floor. Through physical, determined play in the paint, West puts constant pressure on opposing defenses while anchoring the Bears on the boards.
Against Portland State, West recorded her fifth double-double of the season, finishing with 13 points and 10 rebounds to help propel Northern Colorado to a crucial home conference win.

BAYMON BUCKETS
Sophomore guard Heather Baymon continues to provide a major spark off the bench with her scoring ability. Baymon has been one of the Bears most dangerous offensive weapons, tallying six 20-point performances so far this season.

Her standout showing includes a career-high 29 points against Montana, showcasing her ability to change the momentum of a game in a hurry.

ALL-TIME SERIES AGAINST MONTANA STATE
Overall: Montana State leads 22-17 (since 2008)
Last Meeting: UNC 79, MSU 86 (January 1, 2026)
Current Streak: UNC has lost six straight (since 2024)

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Montana State enters the matchup with a 12-4 overall record and a perfect 5-0 start in conference play. In their most recent outing, the Bobcats dominated in-state rival Montana with an 82-44 victory. The Bobcats are led by four-time Big Sky Player of the Week Taylee Chirrick, who is averaging 18.8 points per game on an efficient 51.1 percent shooting from the field, along with 7.1 rebounds per contest.

The Bears will look to carry their winning momentum into Bozeman and secure a statement road victory against one of the conference's top teams.

The game will be available to watch live on ESPN+, with live stats and real-time updates provided through the team's official social media platforms.

UP NEXT: After a quick road trip to Bozeman, the Bears return to Bank of Colorado Arena for Faith and Family Night on Saturday, January 24, hosting Northern Arizona with tip-off set for 2 p.m. MT.

FOLLOW THE BEARS
Fans can stay up to date with Northern Colorado women's basketball by visiting uncbears.com and following the team on social media: X (formerly Twitter) @UNC_BearsWBB, Instagram @UNC_BearsWBB, and Facebook /UNCBearsWBB.