OGDEN, Utah (February 16, 2017) – The battle for the 2017 #BigSkyWBB regular season championship looked like it couldn’t get any tighter, but somehow it did.
With a three-way tie at the top, the North Dakota Fighting Hawks realized that the cards now lie in their favor, with their lone matchup against fellow leader Northern Colorado coming at home. However, in order for the Fighting Hawks to continue staying in front, they had to down a scrappy Idaho State team.
Under Seton Sobolewski, the Bengals’ brand of basketball has become about being physical and standing tall in the face of adversity. Idaho State didn’t disappoint, taking a halftime lead. However, it was the Fighting Hawks who flew to victory, earning a
63-56 win over the visiting Bengals.
Idaho State led 31-29 at halftime, after limiting UND to 30 percent shooting in the first half (9-of-30). From there, the Fighting Hawks would take command, holding Idaho State to a 31 percent shooting performance in the second half (8-of-26) as North Dakota outscored the Bengals 34-25 in the second half. An impressive statistical note for North Dakota came in the fourth quarter, as Idaho State made just 1-of-12 shots.
Two scoring performances highlighted the evening, as Idaho State’s Estefania Orrs led the Bengals with 22 points. North Dakota’s Makailah Dyer led the Fighting Hawks with 21 points, also netting 7 rebounds.
Northern Colorado 86, Weber State 62 – The Northern Colorado Bears maintained a spot at the top of the Big Sky standings, earning a commanding home win over the Weber State Wildcats.
Weber State shot just 29.2 percent in the first half (7-of-24), while making just 3-of-10 three-point shots. That performance, combined with Northern Colorado’s 50 percent performance from the floor and 43.8 percent performance from three-point range (7-of-16), helped the Bears to a 39-22 halftime lead.
Northern Colorado led by as many as 26 points in the third quarter. The Bears were aided by scoring 23 points off 17 Weber State turnovers.
Savannah Smith led all scorers in the game, finishing with 19 points for Northern Colorado. Three Bears scored in double-digit figures, while four Weber State players combined to score 55 of the team’s 62 points. Emily Drake led Weber State with 16 points.
Portland State 69, Montana State 65 – A late charge proved to be too little too late for the #BigSkyWBB co-leading Montana State Bobcats, as the Portland State Vikings charged to a home victory.
The Vikings held a 37-29 halftime lead, and led 57-45 heading the final period. The Bobcats got as close as 60-58, after Peyton Ferris hit a two-point shot with 2:48 late. However, Montana State closed by going just 2-of-9 from the field.
Portland State held Montana State to 34.9 percent shooting, as the Bobcats made just 10-of-33 three-point shots. Montana State outscored Portland State 20-12 in the fourth quarter, going on a 6-0 run to start the final period.
Ashley Bolston led the Vikings with 29 points, making 12-of-14 free throws. Peyton Ferris and Hannah Caudill both scored 15 points for Montana State.
Sacramento State 99, Montana 69 – The Sacramento State Hornets consistently pulled away from the Montana Lady Griz, utilizing their up-tempo style to earn a home win.
The Hornets’ defensive style consistently paid dividends, as Montana made no field goals over the final five minutes of the game. The Lady Griz closed the game making 2-of-12 field goals. Also, Sacramento State forced 25 Montana turnovers, and scored 27 points off those Lady Griz turnovers.
Sacramento State led 52-39 at halftime, after leading just 23-19 after the first quarter. The Hornets held the Lady Griz to 30.3 percent shooting in the first half (10-of-33), making just 2-of-9 three-point shots.
The Hornets’ Maranne Johnson led all scorers with 21 points. Taylor Goligowski led the Lady Griz with 18 points.