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Idaho survives late second half rally by Northern Colorado to win thriller in Greeley

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Idaho survives late second half rally by Northern Colorado to win thriller in Greeley


Coming off a loss to Northern Arizona on Thursday, the Vandals looked to respond in the second game of their road trip. Behind a big first quarter, Idaho defeated Northern Colorado 60-56, ending a four-game losing streak.  

There is some familiarity between the two teams. Head Coach Carrie Eighmey spoke about the familiarities during her weekly press conference.  

“I have quite a bit of familiarity with the Northern Colorado staff and Hannah Simental. I coached her sister at Nebraska Kearney. Kristen has done a phenomenal job building that program and the continuity they have,” she said. 

The Vandals jumped on the Bears early, and after a 4-0 end to the first quarter, the Vandals led the Bears 21-4 to end the quarter. The Vandals kept their defensive intensity up in the second quarter and outscored the Bears 12-11 to take a 33-15 lead into the break.  

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The Vandals found their grove early and finished the half shooting 11-for-21 from the field, an efficient 4-for-7 from three and 7-for-7 from the free-throw line. Northern Colorado’s dreadful offense continued as the Bears finished 3-for-24 from the field, 0-for-10 from beyond the arc and 9-for-12 from the free-throw line (all in the second quarter).  

Coming out of the locker room, the game changed, and the Bears came out of hibernation. The Bears found their rhythm and went on a 12-0 run to close the Vandals’ lead to 33-27. Junior forward Kennedy Johnson ended the almost five-minute drought with a three-pointer to put the Vandals back up nine points.  

Northern Colorado kept the pressure up, and after their best offensive quarter, the Bears cut the once 18-point lead to 44-31 to end the third quarter. Graduate Guard Sarah Schmitt came out and hit a three-pointer to extend the Vandals’ lead to 16.  

The Bears kept fighting, and behind some tremendous free throw shooting, cut the lead to as less as five. The Vandals experience took over the last few minutes of the game. With the Vandals leading 52-47 and badly needing a basket, Schmitt came through.  

Schmitt received the ball on the left wing, crossed her defender over, and laid the ball up to extend the Vandals’ lead. Free throw shooting is a huge part of winning games, and the Vandals’ leaders stepped up when it counted.  

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Schmitt made the last four free throws for the Vandals and helped them escape Greeley with a 60-56 win, ending the four-game losing streak. The Vandals struggled in the second half, being outscored 41-27, and were not as efficient on the offensive end.  

Idaho finished the game 18-for-45 from the field, an impressive 6-for-12 from beyond the arc and 18-for-21 from the free-throw line. The Bears were down and not out and gave the Vandals all they could handle for twenty minutes.  

Northern Colorado finished 15-for-45 from the field, 2-for-14 from beyond the arc and 24-for-29 from the free-throw line. The Vandals had another outstanding defensive performance, holding the Bears to 33% shooting and senior guard Simental to 2-for-7 and five points.  

Sophomore forward Aniah Hall led the Bears with 19 points and six rebounds to keep them in the game. The Vandals were led by Schmitt, whose excellent ten-point fourth quarter had her end up with 15 points, four rebounds and two assists.  

Johnson helped Schmitt with 14 points and five rebounds to help secure the Vandals’ third conference win as Idaho improved to 10-9 overall and 3-4 in conference play. Northern Colorado fell to 9-9 and 4-3 in conference play.  

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Idaho will be back home on Thursday, Feb. 1, as they host the 14-5 Montana Grizzlies looking to extend their win streak and get back in the Big Sky race. 

Jayden Barfuss can be reached at [email protected] or on X @JaydenBarfuss10 



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Colorado weather: Up to 14 inches of snow forecast for mountains

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Colorado weather: Up to 14 inches of snow forecast for mountains


Snow started Monday night in Colorado’s mountains and will continue throughout the week, likely making its way into the Denver area on Friday, according to the National Weather Service.

Colorado’s mountain roads, including Interstate 70 at the Eisenhower-Johnson Tunnel and Berthoud Pass, were already snow-covered Tuesday morning, according to the weather service.

“With more snow to come throughout the day, a Winter Weather Advisory was issued for the Front Range Mountains,” forecasters said.

That advisory will be in effect until 8 p.m. Tuesday for parts of Jackson, Larimer, Boulder, Grand, Gilpin, Clear Creek, Summit and Park counties, including Rocky Mountain National Park. Additional snow accumulations between 6 and 14 inches are possible on Tuesday, forecasters said in the alert.

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As of Tuesday, the weather service’s snow forecasts included:

  • 2 inches on I-70’s Vail Pass, with up to 3 inches possible
  • 3 inches in Winter Park, with up to 4 inches possible
  • 4 inches in Eldora and on U.S. 6’s Loveland Pass, with up to 5 inches possible
  • 4 inches on U.S. 40’s Berthoud Pass near Winter Park, with up to 7 inches possible
  • 5 inches at Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park, with up to 7 inches possible
  • 6 inches on U.S. 34’s Milner Pass in RMNP, with up to 8 inches possible
  • 7 inches on Colorado 14’s Cameron Pass near Fort Collins, with up to 8 inches possible
  • 9 inches on Mount Zirkel, the highest summit of Colorado’s Park Range of the Rocky Mountains, with up to 11 inches possible

“Travel could be very difficult,” weather service forecasters stated in the winter weather advisory. “The hazardous conditions will impact the Tuesday morning and evening commutes.”



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Weiss keeps focus on job as Colorado AHL assistant, not historic promotion | NHL.com

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Weiss keeps focus on job as Colorado AHL assistant, not historic promotion | NHL.com


In NHL.com’s Q&A feature called “Sitting Down with …” we talk to key figures in the game, gaining insight into their lives on and off the ice. This week, we feature Kim Weiss, assistant coach of the Colorado Eagles, the Colorado Avalanche’s American Hockey League affiliate. Weiss was named assistant for the Eagles on Jan. 16, joining Seattle Kraken assistant Jessica Campbell as the only women in the NHL or AHL to be a full-time assistant coach.

Kim Weiss doesn’t think about the history she’s made that often.

The 36-year-old is too busy with her duties that come with being the Colorado Eagles’ assistant coach, including breaking down 5-on-5 video — she was the team’s video coach prior to her promotion — presenting it to the team, pushing pucks and running practice drills.

“When the title change happened and the promotion happened, I left the office of the general manager (Kevin McDonald), and I got back to work,” Weiss told NHL.com. “In the moment you’re not really thinking about that kind of stuff, but obviously it’s an honor.

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“I’m especially grateful just because of my background. I didn’t play on a national team, I didn’t grow up in Minnesota or any kind of a hockey hotbed. So to get at this level and to have this legacy, for lack of a better word, from the place I’m from, a kid from Maryland that played Division III (hockey at Trinity College), it makes me even more proud to show people that you can get somewhere no matter where you start from. Then you add in being a female and all of that, I’m really proud of my journey and I’m proud of all the people who helped me along the way to get here.”

It’s been quite a ride for Weiss with the Eagles, who are second in the AHL Pacific Division. Last week, Weiss talked to NHL.com about her new duties, working with the Avalanche and more women in hockey.

So what was it like the day McDonald called you into the office to give you the news of your promotion?

“Honestly, it’s an affirmation of the work you put in. That’s what the GM said to me. Last season I had a different head coach (Aaron Schneekloth) and we had a different assistant (Dan Hinote) that both moved onto the NHL, and they both spoke highly of me to our GM in the summer and to our new head coach (Mark Letestu). Getting to know Mark this year and working for him, everything that he had heard of me got confirmed through the first few months of the year.

“I don’t exactly know how the process went about to change the title, but I think he went to Kevin, and I know Kevin said this to me, this line of, ‘You’re doing all the work that the assistant does, so why aren’t we calling you one?’ I’m already on the ice with the team and I run skill skates and scratch skates and present (video). I’m doing everything the assistant coach does; I just had a different title. So I really appreciate them just giving me the opportunity to kind of advance my career and keep doing what I love to do, which is coach hockey.”

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Letestu also had you run one of the practices earlier in the season. How did that come about?

“Every assistant got (that chance). The big thing coming in was, he had been an assistant coach before and he wanted to make sure we all had a voice and a say, and we weren’t just coming onto the ice for practice like, ‘Oh, here we go. Push some pucks. Put my track suit on for 20 minutes, push some pucks and jump off.’ He wanted to make sure we had the platform in front of the players.

“It started with our longest-tenured assistant coach, Tim Branham. It was nothing new or scary for any of us, but just a different dynamic. Not every staff allows their assistants to take full responsibility of a full practice. Then Derek (Army) took it and then the next week I took one.”



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How the Colorado Rockies Are Actually Building Its Opening Day Roster

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How the Colorado Rockies Are Actually Building Its Opening Day Roster


The Colorado Rockies are seeking the right balance and experimenting under their first full-year manager, Warren Schaeffer.

It’s a different Rockies roster compared to last season. There are new faces on the active roster for the start of the 2026 season. Having a team with youth and a mix of veterans can be a successful formula for the Rockies.

Knowing how the elevation affects things in Colorado, the Rockies will see which pitcher can thrive playing in Coors Field. Anything can happen this season.

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The Rockies Must Have A Roster That Can Stay Durable 

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Ryan Feltner | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
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A Rotation of Veterans

Rockies president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta added several arms over 34, including Michael Lorenzen, Jose Quintana, and Tomoyuki Sugano.

The fifth starter will be a competitive battle. The Rockies have options in who will win that fifth and final spot. Here is the prediction of the Rockies’ starting rotation:

  • Kyle Freeland
  • Michael Lorenzen
  • Ryan Feltner
  • Jose Quintana
  • Chase Dollander

Ryan Feltner has battled injuries. The 29-year-old suffered back spasms and shoulder injuries, preventing him from performing in 2025. He’s determined to have a breakout season. 

He had a lot of momentum in his final 15 starts of the 2024 season. Feltner posted a 2.75 ERA and finished with a career-high 162 1/3 innings. Feltner has been building his weight-room capacity and getting himself ready for the new season. Hopefully, he can stay healthy and produce.

Flexibility on the Infield

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The Rockies’ acquisition of Willi Castro was a smart move. We know the Rockies’ future at shortstop is Ezequel Tovar. However, the Rockies organization is being cautious. They want to make sure they have an extra body on hand in case something goes south. Castro is a former All-Star and a versatile defender. 

Eduoard Julien is known for playing second base, but he can also play first base if the Rockies need him there. It all depends on many situations and circumstances. Julien is one of the players on the Rockies roster who must prove his worth.

In terms of first base, TJ Rumfield is a front-office option to serve that position. He has the size, length, and youth to play the position. Rumfield is having an impressive start to the spring so far. 

Current Roster and Opening Day Prediction Lineup

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Ezequiel Tovar, SS 
Tyler Freeman, 2B 
Mickey Moniak, DH 
Hunter Goodman, C 
Kyle Karros, 3B
Jordan Beck, RF 
Brenton Doyle, CF
Jake McCarthy, LF
TJ Rumfield, 1B

The lineup can change overnight, and especially in the next few weeks. If, for some reason, Freeman can’t okay second base to start the season, then Castro is the leading man to take the spot. 



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