GREELEY, COLO. -- If this were a western show, Annie Oakley would have been proud of the shooters from Northern Colorado (6-6, 2-2 in the NCC), who hit 10 of 11 shots to open the game and cruised to a a 71-54 win over South Dakota (8-5, 2-3 in the NCC) in North Central Conference women's basketball before 396 at Butler-Hancock Hall on Friday, Jan. 4.
With the win, the Bears ended the Coyotes' five-game winning streak and stopped a two-game losing streak to South Dakota.
Northern Colorado jumped to an 11-2 lead as the Bears received two three-pointers from Julie Bentson and Kayla Flavin also connected from downtown in the opening three minutes of the game.
A three-pointer by Heather Nelson and an inside basket by sophomore forward Mandy Koupal drew South Dakota within 11-7 at the 16:19 mark. After Bentson hit another jumper, South Dakota's Krista Orsack hit a three-pointer as the Coyotes pulled within 13-10.
After that Coyote surge, the Bears took control of the game. They outscored South Dakota 16-0 to take a 29-10 lead at the 10:22 mark after a jumper by UNC's Kristi Held. The Coyotes ended a 5:31 scoreless stretch when junior forward Amanda Iverson hit one of two free throws at the 10:09 mark to cut the deficit to 29-11. A three-pointer by Jessica Johnson gave the Bears a 34-14 lead at the 7:26 mark. South Dakota's Julia Frie hit two three-pointers in the final three-minutes to pull the Coyotes within 39-23 at the break.
In the first half, Northern Colorado hit 13 of 24 field goals for 54.2 percent but it was their success at the three-point line that proved the difference. They made eight of 11 three-point field goals for 72.7 percent. Bentson, who was averaging about seven points a game, had 14 points in the first half as she hit four of six three-point baskets. South Dakota hit just eight of 26 field goals for 30.8 percent and they were six of 14 from the three-point arc for 42.9 percent. Koupal led the Coyotes with seven points while Orsack and Frie added six points in the first half. In the second half, the Coyotes had more success on the offensive end but could not make up the halftime deficit. Northern Colorado outscored USD, 32-31 in the second stanza.
The Bears opened the second half like they began the first half with a successful three-pointer - this time from Jessica Johnson, who had 11 points and three baskets from the three-point arc on the night. A three-pointer by Lisa Gangel of UNC increased the lead to 55-31 at the 13:06 mark. South Dakota continually cut the lead under 20 points but could generate any sustained offense. Nelson, who scored eight points for the Coyotes, hit a three-pointer at the 8:36 mark to draw USD within 61-42. Then a few minutes later, Orsack hit from three-point range to pull South Dakota within 63-47 but that was as close as the Coyotes got in the second half.
Overall, the Coyotes hit 18 of 54 field goals for 33.3 percent and they were 11 of 26 from three-point range for 42.3 percent. South Dakota hit seven of eight free throws for 87.5 percent. Orsack had 14 points to lead South Dakota. She was four of 11 from three-point range. Koupal had 11 points and seven rebounds.
Northern Colorado hit 25 of 51 field goals for 49 percent and they made 11 of 20 three-point field goals for 55 percent. They hit 10 of 16 free throws for 62.5 percent. Bentson led the Bears with 17 points, including five of nine from three-point range. Missy Borell had 16 points and nine rebounds. Northern Colorado won the rebound battle, 37-29.
South Dakota will travel to Nebraska-Omaha on Saturday with gametime set for 6 p.m. at Lee & Helene Sapp Fieldhouse in Omaha, Neb.
