The Northern Colorado women’s basketball was swept on a two-game road trip in Montana this weekend, following an 82-73 loss against Montana Saturday afternoon in Missoula.
The Grizzlies jumped out to a 24-16 lead after the first quarter and led by as many as 18 in the second half to send UNC to its second loss in three days. The visiting Bears started the road trip Thursday with a 61-40 loss at Montana State in Bozeman.
Montana’s win evened the teams’ two-game season series. UNC beat Montana 67-57 on Jan. 11 in Greeley near the beginning of its season-best five-game winning streak.
Montana is 8-4 and tied for third with Montana State in the Big Sky Conference standings. The Grizzlies are 16-7 overall. UNC is 5-6 in the Big Sky and 10-12 overall.
UNC cut into Montana’s lead in the second quarter, trailing only 38-31 at halftime. The Grizzlies, though, bounced back with a 25-point third quarter on 53% shooting from the field. UNC scored the first eight of the fourth quarter to cut Montana’s lead to five points, 63-58.
Bears freshman forward Tatum West scored a career-high 24 points in 22 minutes. West shot 7 of 12 from the floor and she was 6 of 6 from the line. West’s previous career high in points was 18 Dec. 30 at Northern Arizona.
Sophomore guard Seneca Hackley scored 18 points, and forward Delaynie Byrne added 11 points and 10 rebounds playing all 40 minutes.
Montana forward Dani Bartsch scored a career-high 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Guard Mack Konig had 18 points and four assists, and fifth-year guard Gina Marxen matched a season-high with 17 points.
UNC hosts Portland State and Sacramento State Thursday and Saturday at Bank of Colorado Arena. The Bears play Portland State at 6 p.m. Thursday, and they face Sacramento State at 2 p.m. Saturday.
