Jan. 2, 2008

Weekly Release: at Idaho State, at Weber State

*Complete release attached in pdf format*

 

Games #13-14

Northern Colorado (6-7, 0-0 Big Sky) at Idaho State (8-4, 0-0 Big Sky)

Thursday, Jan. 3 • Pocatello, Idaho • Holt Arena (8,000) • 7:05 p.m.

Northern Colorado at Weber State (6-6, 0-0 Big Sky)

Saturday, Jan. 5 • Ogden, Utah • Dee Events Center (12,000) • 2:05 p.m.

The Series........................... ISU...................... WSU

Overall Record..................... 0-4........................ 5-6

In Greeley........................... 0-2........................ 3-2

At Opponent......................... 0-1........................ 2-3

At Neutral Sites.................... 0-1........................ 0-1

Last Meeting..................... 2006-07.............. 2006-07

White vs.............................. 0-2........................ 0-2

 

The Coaches

Northern Colorado.... Jaime White (11-31, second year)

Idaho State................. Jon Newlee (81-75, sixth year)

Weber State............................. Carla Taylor (276-271, 20th year)

 

Radio

   KFKA 1310 AM.............. J.J. McKay, play-by-play

 

Audio Streaming

   KFKA............................................. 1310kfka.com

 

Television

   None

 

Video Streaming

   Big Sky............................................. bigskytv.org

 

Live Stats

   Idaho State.................................... isubengals.com

                Weber State               weberstatesports.com

 

Beginning Big Sky Ball

Northern Colorado continues its four-game road trip with a pair of Big Sky Conference games. The Bears open league play at Idaho State on Thursday evening and then conclude the trip with a 2:05 tilt at Weber State on Saturday. Last year, Northern Colorado posted a 2-14 record in its first year in the conference and this is the first year the Bears are eligible to compete in the Big Sky Tournament at the conclusion of the regular season.

 

Series History

Northern Colorado is looking for its first-ever win against Idaho State, trailing 4-0 in the all-time series, while the Bears are hoping to tie the all-time series at six games each against Weber State. Last year, Northern Colorado went 0-2 in Big Sky play against each team.

 

Non-Conference Recap

The Bears posted a 6-7 non-conference record during 2007, including their first true road victory during Jaime White's tenure as head coach with the 69-46 win at San Jose State on Dec. 28. They also won a neutral site contest against Southeast Missouri State back on Nov. 24 at New Mexico State.

 

The Schroeder and Stoermer Show

Freshman guard Courtney Stoermer and junior guard Jamie Schroeder took over for the Bears on the recent trip to California. The pair combined for 69 of the team's 131 (52.7 percent) points, 11 of the 25 (44 percent) assists, 31 of the 66 (47%) rebounds, 4 of the 12 (33.3%) steals and two of the six (33.3%) blocks against San Jose State and St. Mary's. Stoermer posted her career high with 17 points at San Jose State, while Schroeder tied her career high with 18 points in each of the two games.

 

Helping Hands

Of the nine active players who have notched at least one assist this year, there are 40 different combinations of scorers and helpers. The most potent duo is senior center Danielle Hagen and freshman guard Courtney Stoermer. Hagen has set up Stoermer eight times this season, while Stoermer has assisted Hagen 10 times. The next pair with the most feeds to each other involves Hagen and junior guard Jamie Schroeder. Hagen has assisted Schroeder eight times, with Schroeder helping Hagen five times.

 

Conference Openers

Last year, the Bears opened their first year in the Big Sky Conference with a 78-66 loss at Weber State. All-time, Northern Colorado is 18-11 in conference season openers. They were 4-3 in Intermountain Athletic Conference (1974-82) starters, 5-2 in Continental Divide Conference (1982-89) beginners and 9-5 in first games in the North Central Conference (1989-2003). From 2003-06, the Bears were not in a conference due to the transition to Division I.

 

Last Five

Since the loss of junior guard Whitley Cox to an injury, the Bears have been scoring by committee. Four players are averaging double figures in scoring during that time with junior guard Jamie Schroeder leading the way at 12.0 a contest. Freshman guard Kate Kevorken is second with 10.4 per game and both freshman guard Courtney Stoermer and senior center Danielle Hagen are averaging an even 10 per game. The Bears have also shared the wealth, so to speak, as four (Hagen, sophomore guard Lizzie Cooper, Stoermer, Schroeder) have at least 12 assists during that same stretch.

 

Uncontested

In four of the first eight games this season, the Bears shot below 60 percent from the free throw line, but have turned things around, shooting at least .625 in each of the last five games, including a season-best .867 (13-15) at Saint Mary's on Sunday. Northern Colorado is now shooting .718 from the charity stripe this season, compared to .609 for the opposition. In the last five contests the Bears have hit at a .753 clip, while opponents have shot just .598.

 

Super Sub

Freshman guard Kate Kevorken is one of the best sixth women in the Big Sky Conference. She has seven double figure scoring games off the bench and one double-double (SE Missouri State). She is currently second on the team in scoring (10.5 per game) and leads the team in three-pointers (2.15). She is also the top freshman rebounder in the league (5.0) and ranks 33rd nationally in three-pointers made per game (2.6 - through Dec. 17).

 

Going Streaking

Northern Colorado has now made at least one three-pointer in 190 consecutive games, dating all the way back to Jan. 20, 2001 at South Dakota State. This season, the Bears have connected on at least three triples in all 13 contests.

 

She's Back

Head Coach Jaime White luckily missed just two games during her medical leave of absence. She returned to the bench in a limited role at Wyoming. White announced after the game against UMKC she had to undergo emergency surgery for cancer and will undergo radiation treatments later in the season.

 

I'll See Your Five And Raise You One

With the win over San Jose State, Northern Colorado surpassed its win total from last season, posting its sixth victory of the year. In 2006-07, the Bears were 5-24, while this year they are 6-7. Through the first 13 games last season, the team had just three victories and two were over Division II schools, while this year, all six wins are against Division I teams.

 

Closing In

Several Bears are closing in on career or season milestones. Senior center Danielle Hagen needs just two blocked shots for 50 and is 20 rebounds shy of 250. She is also seven assists shy of 10th on the all-time career charts and 25 rebounds shy of tying for eighth. Sophomore guard Alisa Christopherson is now just 16 points shy of 100 for her career at Northern Colorado. Freshman guard Kate Kevorken needs 17 points for 150 in her career, while freshman guard Courtney Stoermer is 14 points shy of the same mark. Junior guard Jamie Schroeder now needs just 15 rebounds for 100.

 

Down On The Block

Senior center Danielle Hagen continues to rebound the ball extremely well. Hagen now has 630 caroms in her career, needing just 25 more to tie for eighth, tying Marianne Clark (1996-00) with 655. Hagen also added four assists in the two games last week and now has 219 in her career, needing just seven to break onto that career list.

 

On These Dates

In games played on Jan. 3, NC is 5-6 all-time, winning three of the last five games on that date, while on Jan. 5, the Bears have an 8-3 all-time record, winning seven of their last eight.

 

Leading The Way - Team Wise

Through games played on Dec. 31, Northern Colorado ranks first in scoring defense (61.1), three-point field goal percentage defense (.276) and tied for first in rebounding defense (37.8), second in field goal percentage defense (.379), rebounding offense (40.2), rebounding margin (+2.3), three-pointers made (7.08) and defensive rebounds (28.00).

 

Leading The Way - Individually

In the individual Big Sky Conference statistics, senior center Danielle Hagen ranks second in the league in rebounds (9.2), offensive rebounds (2.77), third in defensive rebounds (6.38) and sixth in free throw percentage (.811) while freshman guard Kate Kevorken ranks sixth in three-pointers made (2.15) and freshman guard Courtney Stoermer is tied for sixth in blocked shots (0.85) and second in minutes played (35.62).

 

Take Two, They're Free

In 12 of 13 games this year, Northern Colorado has shot a higher free throw percentage than the opponent. The Bears are connecting on .718 percent of their charity stripe attempts, compared to just .609 for the opposition. Last week the team hit .816 (31-38) from the free throw line.

 

No One Likes To See That

Unfortunately, junior guard Whitley Cox suffered a season-ending injury to her left knee in the game against Air Force. Cox will hopefully be able to receive a medical hardship and have two full seasons of eligibility remaining. She was leading the team and ranked second in the Big Sky Conference averaging 20.1 points per game. She also led the squad with 3.8 assists per game and was third on the club with 5.3 rebounds per game.

 

Double-Double Trouble

Northern Colorado has had at least one player record a double-double six times already this year. Senior center Danielle Hagen tallied 12 points and a career-high 20 rebounds against Colorado State, freshman guard Kate Kevorken had 15 points and 10 rebounds against Southeast Missouri State and junior guard Jamie Schroeder had 11 points and 11 rebounds against Pacific and 18 points and 11 boards against Columbia. Junior guard Whitley Cox notched two; one in the opener against San Francisco with 25 points and 10 rebounds and one at New Mexico State with 23 points and 11 rebounds. Last season there were only six double-doubles recorded in 29 games.

 

Wire To Wire

Northern Colorado led the game from the opening tip to the closing buzzer against both San Francisco and Columbia. The Bears scored the first nine points of the game against the Dons and led by as many as 28 with just under 11 minutes to play in the second half. Against the Lions, the Bears scored the first eight and led by as many as 22. Last season the Bears never led a contest from the beginning through the end of the game.

 

Now Eligible

The Northern Colorado women's basketball team is now eligible to compete in postseason play in 2007 after successfully making the transition to Division I. This year marks the first year the Bears are also eligible to win the Big Sky Conference Championship as well as compete in the Big Sky Tournament.

 

Chosen Ninth

The University of Northern Colorado women's basketball team was chosen by both the Big Sky Conference coaches and media to finish ninth in league play during 2007-08. The Bears received 11 votes in the coaches poll and 34 in the media poll. Montana was picked to win in both the coaches and media preseason polls, while Idaho State is picked to finish second in both polls.

 

On The Horizon

Northern Colorado continues to inch closer to a large program milestone. The win against San Jose State marked the 485th win in program history and the team now needs 15 for 500. The Bears are 485-475 all-time.

 

Bears Add Three

Head Coach Jaime White announced the signing of three student-athletes in Kaisha Brown, Courtney Kranz and Lauren Oosdyke.

Kaisha Brown, 5-10, G/F, Spirit Lake, Iowa (Spirit Lake HS)

Brown averaged 14.0 points and 4.9 rebounds per game as a junior with four games over 20 or more points in a game. Was a second-team All-Northwest Iowa Girls Basketball selection last year.

Courtney Kranz, 6-3, C, Mendota Heights, Minn. (Visitation HS)

Kranz is a three-time letterwinner entering her senior season with the Blazers. She is also a two-time all-conference selection and was the only unanimous pick as a junior. She helped lead her team to the conference championship last year and also is a three-time letterwinner in volleyball, where her team was three-time conference champions. She plays club basketball for the NC Heat where they placed third at the AAU Nationals last season.

Lauren Oosdyke, 5-11, F, Coto de Caza, Calif. (Santa Margarita Catholic HS)

Was a first-team All-Trinity League selection as a junior after being named a second-team all-conference selection in the Sierra League as a sophomore. She has also been named to several all-tournament teams throughout her career. Averages 10 points and eight rebounds per game to go along with a 58% field goal percentage from the field.

 

Scouting The Bengals

Idaho State is 8-4 on the year and lost to Boise State in its last game, 78-74. Both teams lost this year to Wyoming, with the Bengals falling 76-50 in Laramie and the Bears losing 68-37.

 

Big Sky Conference leading scorer and rebounder Natalie Doma leads the Bengals with 23.0 and 12.8 per game, respectively. Guard Andrea Lightfoot is second in both categories with 16.5 and 5.3 respectively. Jenna Brown leads the way with 58 assists, while Bianca Cheever leads with 16 steals and Michelle Grohs has nine blocked shots.

 

Idaho State leads the nation in free throw percentage (.842) and is the conference leader in three-pointers per game (8.75), while the Bears rank right behind them with 7.08 triples a game. Idaho State is averaging 73.6 points, 37.8 rebounds, 16.4 assists, 15.3 turnovers, 6.2 steals and 2.2 blocks per game while shooting .408 from the field, .383 from the arc and .842 from the free throw line. Opponents are averaging 67.4 points, 39.7 rebounds, 14.6 assists, 15.3 turnovers, 8.8 steals and 3.4 blocks while shooting .404 from the floor, .308 from the arc and .696 from the charity stripe

 

Scouting The Wildcats

Weber State is 6-6 on the year and has lost its last three. Both teams defeated Colorado State this year, with WSU winning 61-50 and the Bears winning 70-60. The contest could be a low-scoring affair as both teams are allowing just 61.1 points per game to lead the Big Sky Conference.

 

Sara Tuomi leads the `Cats in both scoring (16.7) and rebounding (6.8), while Ahkiah Hunter is second with 11.5 points per game and Tashina Taylor is second with 4.7 rebounds. Tonya Schnibbe leads with 58 assists, while Hunter has a team-best 20 steals and Taylor has nine blocks.

 

Weber State is averaging 56.6 points, 34.0 rebounds, 11.8 assists, 16.5 turnovers, 5.9 steals and 2.1 blocks per game while shooting .365 from the floor, .345 from beyond the arc and .751 from the free throw line. Opponents are averaging 61.1 points, 38.9 rebounds, 12.1 assists, 17.0 turnovers, 7.7 steals and 3.1 blocks per game while shooting .402 from the floor, .327 from the three-point line and .693 from the free throw line.