Clash of the Titans: Big Sky's Top Two Teams Go Head-to-Head at Northern Colorado

Saturday, January 14

Greeley, CO

2 p.m.

Montana State University

Northern Colorado

Photo by: Kelly Gorham

Clash of the Titans: Big Sky's Top Two Teams Go Head-to-Head at Northern Colorado

1/13/2017 4:14:00 PM | Women's Basketball

MSU WBB NOTES

Following its game with Northern Colorado, Montana State will return to Worthington Arena next week when it hosts Sacramento State on Jan. 19 and Portland State on Jan. 21. The Bobcats are riding an 18-game home winning streak, which is the seventh longest at the NCAA Division I level. MSU’s run trails UConn 57, Baylor 51, Albany 24, South Dakota 22, UCLA 20 and Bucknell 19.

By: Tom Schulz

MONTANA STATE (11-4, 4-1 BSC) AT NO. COLORADO (13-3, 5-0 BSC)

    Date:                         Jan. 14, 2017
    Tipoff: 2 p.m. (MST)
    Site:                          Bank of Colorado Arena (2,734) * Greeley, CO
    Radio:                       KMMS 1450 AM; Play-by-Play with Jason Alvine
    Live Video: WatchBigSky.com
    Live Stats:                uncbears.com

NEXT UP: After its 74-71 overtime win at North Dakota on Thursday night, the Montana State women's basketball team made the trek to Greeley, Colo., where it will face Big Sky-leading Northern Colorado on Saturday, Jan. 14 at 2 p.m. in Bank of Colorado Arena. The Bears are the only undefeated team in the league play after easily dispatching Montana 65-46 on Thursday evening. The Bobcats sit one game behind UNC with a 4-1 Big Sky Conference ledger.

ON A SERIES NOTE: Montana State holds a slight 12-10 lead in its all-time series with Northern Colorado dating back to Feb. 22, 1980. However, Northern Colorado is 4-1 in the last five meetings. In addition, the Bobcats have not won in Greeley since Jan. 16, 2014 when they handed the Bears a 68-55 setback. MSU is 5-6 all-time at Northern Colorado.

A LOOK AHEAD: Following its game with Northern Colorado, Montana State will return to Worthington Arena next week when it hosts Sacramento State on Jan. 19 and Portland State on Jan. 21. The Bobcats are riding an 18-game home winning streak, which is the seventh longest at the NCAA Division I level. MSU's run trails UConn 57, Baylor 51, Albany 24, South Dakota 22, UCLA 20 and Bucknell 19.

STATE OF THE LEAGUE: The Big Sky is currently ranked 18th in the most recent RPI. According to this week's NCAA Nitty-Gritty RPI the Bobcats are the highest ranked Big Sky team; listed at No. 92. MSU is followed by Northern Colorado 111, Idaho 126, North Dakota 139, Eastern Washington 141, Idaho State 196, Southern Utah 208, Portland State 226, Weber State 236, Northern Arizona 276, Sacramento State 290, and Montana 339.

BIG SKY PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Peyton Ferris averaged 26 points, 7.5 rebounds and two assists per game as the Bobcats defeated Eastern Washington and Idaho. For her efforts she was named Big Sky Player of the Week. Ferris shot an impressive 64.5 percent from the field, 75 percent from beyond the arc and 75 percent from the free throw line. Ferris had her best outing in MSU's overtime win over EWU with a season-high 30 points. Against the Eagles she also added a game-high nine rebounds and chipped in three assists. Ferris posted 22 points against Idaho, despite foul trouble which saw her play only 18 minutes. Against the Vandals, she connected on nine-of-14 from the floor, which included a three-of-four effort from long distance.

SCOUTING THE BEARS: Northern Colorado is 13-3 overall and 5-0 in Big Sky Conference play after defeating Montana 65-46 Thursday night in Greeley. The Bears, who sit alone in first place in the league standings, had four players in double-figures against the Lady Griz. Savannah Scott paced UNC with 15 points, followed by Savannah Smith 12, Mandy Karako 11 and Courtney Smith 10. Guard Krystal Leger-Walker matched a career-high with eight assists against Montana. The Lady Griz won the battle of the boards, out-rebounding Northern Colorado 43-31. The Bears, however, forced 21 UM turnovers. On the season, Savannah Smith, Savannah Scott and Courtney Smith guide the Bears averaging 14.4, 14.3 and 12.4 points per game, respectively. Courtney Smith leads UNC under the boards, averaging team-best 6.1 rebounds per contest. UNC is off to its best start in the Big Sky play since joining the conference in 2006. The previous best was a 3-0 start in the 2012-13 season. The program's best start in any conference play came in the 1997-98 season when the Bears started 7-0 in North Central Conference (NCAA Division II) play.