FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (Interstat) — The Northern Colorado women’s basketball team delivered a commanding performance Saturday, defeating Northern Arizona 81-53 at Walkup Skydome. The Bears seized control early, leading 21-12 after the first quarter and extending their advantage to 37-19 by halftime. Northern Colorado maintained its pressure throughout, outscoring the Lumberjacks in every quarter. Tatum West led the Bears with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Layla Davis scored 15 points for Northern Arizona. The victory improved Northern Colorado to 20-8 overall this season. Northern Arizona fell to 10-18. An announced crowd of 356 attended the Big Sky Conference game.

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (Interstat) — The Northern Colorado women’s basketball team delivered a defensive masterclass on the road Saturday, overwhelming Northern Arizona from the opening tip and cruising to a dominant 81-53 victory in a Big Sky Conference game at Walkup Skydome. The Bears, now 20-8 overall, established control with a stifling first-half performance, holding the Lumberjacks to just 19 points on 7-of-25 shooting and forcing 12 turnovers before halftime. Northern Colorado led 21-12 after one quarter and extended the margin to 37-19 by the intermission, effectively deciding the contest long before the final buzzer. The most important part of the game was Northern Colorado’s immediate and relentless defensive pressure, which created a cascade of problems for Northern Arizona. The Bears forced 20 turnovers for the game, converting them into 33 points. They also racked up 16 steals, with Heather Baymon and Aniah Hall each recording three. This defensive havoc disrupted any rhythm the Lumberjacks hoped to find and fueled Northern Colorado’s efficient transition offense, leading to 48 points in the paint. Northern Colorado’s offense was balanced and efficient, posting an offensive rating of 118.1 points per 100 possessions. The Bears shot 49.2% from the field while holding Northern Arizona to 38.6%. The Bears also dominated the glass with a 14-9 advantage in offensive rebounds, leading to 16 second-chance points. Tatum West, a 6-foot-1 forward from Combine, Texas, led the Bears with a double-double, scoring 12 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in 27 minutes. She added a steal and a block, anchoring the interior effort. Baymon, a guard from Phoenix, matched West’s scoring output with 15 points, adding five rebounds and two assists. Northern Colorado received significant contributions throughout its rotation. Aniah Hall of Temple, Texas, scored 12 points with five rebounds and two blocks. Neenah George from Dallas also had 12 points and three assists, while Ruthie Loomis-Goltl of Bridgeport, Nebraska, provided a spark off the bench with 10 points and three rebounds in just 11 minutes. Northern Arizona, which fell to 10-18, was led by Layla Davis of Lancaster, California, who scored 15 points and collected seven rebounds. Kayla Williams of San Diego added 10 points. The Lumberjacks struggled mightily from beyond the arc, making only 2 of 6 attempts, and were out-assisted 16-7. The game was a stark reversal of the national statistical projection, which had favored the home team by a slim margin. Instead, Northern Colorado executed its game plan flawlessly, avenging a prior loss to Idaho State and continuing its push toward the conference tournament. Northern Colorado set the tone early. After a slow start from both teams, the Bears used a 9-0 run midway through the first quarter, capped by a Baymon three-pointer, to take a 15-6 lead. Northern Arizona never recovered, as every attempt to string together baskets was met with a Northern Colorado steal or a defensive stop. The Bears’ lead never dipped below double digits after the first quarter and ballooned to as many as 32 points in the second half. The Bears have now won three consecutive games following their loss to Idaho State on Feb. 7. Northern Arizona saw a two-game winning streak snapped. Northern Colorado next hosts Eastern Washington on Thursday. Northern Arizona will host Idaho on the same night.

Preview: Northern Colorado Bears at Northern Arizona Lumberjacks FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (Interstat) — The Northern Colorado Bears, riding a four-game winning streak, will visit the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks in a Big Sky Conference women’s basketball matchup Saturday at Walkup Skydome. The Bears (19-8 overall) enter with significant momentum, having won seven of their last eight games. Their most recent victory was a 71-57 road win at Portland State on Feb. 14, where guard Neenah George led the way with 17 points, five rebounds and four assists. George has been a consistent force, averaging 11.4 points and 3.4 assists over her last seven contests. She posted 12 points, six rebounds and five assists in the first meeting this season against Northern Arizona. Northern Arizona (10-17) has shown recent improvement, securing back-to-back road wins at Portland State and Sacramento State last week. In the 60-55 victory over Sacramento State, forward Madison Watts filled the stat sheet with seven points, eight rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Watts averages 13.4 points over her last seven games, including a 20-point performance at Idaho on Jan. 31. The Lumberjacks will seek to avenge a 72-59 loss in Greeley on Jan. 24. In that game, Northern Colorado used a balanced attack and held Northern Arizona to 32.8% shooting from the field. The Bears have established themselves as a top-tier team in the conference, while the Lumberjacks are looking to build on their recent success and play spoiler at home. Northern Colorado’s defense, which has held opponents to 55.8 points per game during its current winning streak, will be tested by Watts and a Northern Arizona squad averaging 73.5 points in its last two outings. Tipoff is scheduled for Saturday afternoon. Northern Colorado visits Idaho on Feb. 28, while Northern Arizona hosts Idaho on Feb. 26.