After getting down by 27 points, it would be easy for a team to fold and give in. Not the University of Northern Colorado women’s basketball team.
UNC (11-15, 7-12 Big Sky) fell to Idaho (10-16, 9-8 Big Sky), 88-79, on the road after cutting the Vandals’ lead to just five points with a minute left.
First-year Northern Colorado head coach Kristen Mattio frequently talks about the importance of being aggressive and “punching first.” That wasn’t the case on Saturday.
The Bears started slow in Moscow and struggled to stop the hot-hitting Vandals offense. Idaho started the game on a 12-4 run, hitting 31-of-61 (50.8%) from the field and 10-of-24 (41.7%) from 3-point range for the game.
Northern Colorado struggled to get its offense rolling. It made under 40% of its field goals and under 33% from deep in the first half.
While the Bears found a better offensive rhythm after the break, Idaho’s continued. They were able to put together a 13-0 run late in the third quarter and a 10-0 run in the fourth — four UNC players finished in double figures — but there wasn’t enough time for the team to take the lead.
Graduate student Alexis Chapman led the team with a season-high 19 points. Sophomore Sydney Stensgard added a career-high 11 points and career-high three rebounds.
Northern Colorado out-rebounded the Vandals, 34-32, but turnovers, fouls and the inability to stop the Idaho offense — it finished with 20 assists — ultimately hurt the team.
The Bears will return to Greeley for their final games of the regular season next week. They will face Montana at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
