March 6, 2008

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GREELEY, Colo. - Needing at least one win in its final two games to secure a berth to the Big Sky Conference Tournament, the University of Northern Colorado women's basketball team decided early to make tonight the night, as they defeated Northern Arizona 85-67.

Senior center Danielle Hagen and junior guard Jamie Schroeder took over the game, combining for 44 points and 29 rebounds, along with nine assists. Hagen was one board shy of her career high, bringing down 19 to move into third all-time on the career charts with 775. She also scored 20 points, while Schroeder led all players with 24 and had her sixth double-double of the year with 10 rebounds.

"I said it at the beginning of the year," said Head Coach Jaime White. "If there is one person I want to be just as successful as she could, it would be Danielle. And that's not taking anything away from anybody else, but Danielle has been solid for us. She works hard every day, even when she was injured she never complained about it. She's grown from it and she's been a great example for our team. She means the world to us."

Freshman guard Courtney Stoermer almost notched a double-double with 17 points and a career-high nine assists, while freshman guard Kate Kevorken scored in double figures for the fifth straight game with 10 points.

"Honestly, I just think everybody played solid tonight," quoted White. "Lizzie (Cooper) played solid and Courtney played solid - she almost had a double-double with assists. I just thought they were level headed and really did their job."

The Bears shot .554 from the field for the game, the second-highest percentage of the season and connected on .529 of their three-pointers, which is the best percentage this year and .875 from the free throw line. They also out-rebounded Northern Arizona, 43-27 and tallied a season-high 22 assists with just 15 turnovers.

Northern Arizona shot .348 from the field, .500 from the three-point line and .714 from the free throw line and turned the ball over just nine times.

Janelle Matthews led the Lumberjacks with 23 points and three steals, hitting five three-pointers, while Laura Dinkins had 11 points and seven rebounds and Sade Cunningham had 10 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.

Five different Bears hit at least one three-pointer on the evening, led by Schroeder's four, while Kevorken added two to bring her season total to 66 to move into fourth on the NC single-season charts.

Northern Colorado will be either the five or the six seed at the Big Sky Conference Tournament which begins March 13 in Missoula, Montana. The Lady Griz earned the right to host the tournament and won the conference title outright with a 62-48 victory over Eastern Washington this evening.

The Bears close out the regular season with a game against Sacramento State on Saturday at 2:05 p.m. The Hornets are 4-11 in Big Sky play and 6-21 overall.