Feb. 9, 2008

Final Stats

GREELEY, Colo. - Fans in the stands might have thought they were attending a free throw clinic as the University of Northern Colorado women's basketball team lost a 76-63 game to Idaho State University as the two teams combined to go 38-for-42 from the charity stripe. Northern Colorado falls to 11-12 on the year and 5-5 in Big Sky Conference action, while Idaho State improves to 15-6 overall and 7-2 in league play.

The Bengals made 19-of-20 from the free throw line, including a perfect 6-for-6 in the final two minutes as the Bears tried to foul to regain possession to cut into the lead. The Bears made 19-of-22 from the charity stripe, with a perfect 8-for-8 night for senior center Danielle Hagen.

The game was also "Think Pink Game" for the Bears in a national campaign with the Women's Basketball Coaches Association to raise awareness for breast cancer. The team warmed up in pink shirts and had fans in the stands wearing the color associated with the Susan G. Komen Foundation. All proceeds from the game will be donated.

Junior guard Jamie Schroeder led the Bears with her third double-double of the year, recording 21 points and 10 rebounds, while Hagen had 16 points, six rebounds and led the team with five assists. Freshman guard Paige Ricker also tallied a career-high 10 points.

Idaho State was led by senior guard Andrea Lightfoot with 25 points, including 10-for-11 from the free throw line, while player of the year candidate Natalie Doma chipped in 19 points and 14 rebounds and Oana Iacovita came off the bench to score 10. Guard Jenna Brown led the team with three assists.

"Lightfoot had one of her better games," said Head Coach Jaime White. "She doesn't make mistakes. She and Doma are both very solid players. We played Danielle outside to pull Doma out to open it up for Jamie. The only problem with that is it pulls Danielle out of rebounding."

Northern Colorado had 15 assists and just 13 turnovers in the game, notching nine steals and 32 rebounds. They shot .358 from the floor and .214 from beyond the arc. Idaho State had 13 assists and 13 turnovers with four steals and 41 rebounds and shot .400 from the floor and .450 from the three-point line.

"I talked to the team before the game about turnovers, saying we needed under 15 and we did that today," continued White. "I think we were more composed (than Thursday) and handled the pressure better. Lizzie Cooper had just one turnover and handled the ball almost every trip down the floor for us."

The Bears take their final road trip of the regular season, playing at Portland State Thursday evening (7:00 Pacific) and at Eastern Washington Saturday afternoon (2:05 Pacific).