Northern Colorado women’s hoops beats Colorado State, 102-91, in triple overtime

Freshman Averee Kleinhans stood a bit of bit previous half court docket, the basketball in her arms, because the clock wound down. She appeared up into the stands with a smile for a second or two as cheers hit a fever pitch.

She appeared proud, grateful and a bit of bit relieved. The College of Northern Colorado (5-2) defeated Colorado State (4-3) at residence, 102-91, in triple extra time.

“I really feel like each recreation must be like this,” Kleinhans mentioned. “Not triple extra time, but when it’s triple extra time and we get the win — then it’s price it.”

It was the primary triple extra time since Nov. 18, 2016, when UNC defeated Florida Gulf Coast by three. The staff additionally tied a Division I program document for factors scored. The final time a UNC squad scored 102 was again in 2017 when the Bears performed Sacramento State.

Video games function quite a lot of moments and quite a lot of attributes that contribute to a win or a loss. For the Bears, all of it boiled right down to maturity.

Mattio performed seven freshmen. The upperclassmen haven’t performed in opposition to CSU earlier than. They executed the basics, made in-game changes, stayed calm and put forth an exemplary effort.

Within the two losses, UNC led going into the fourth quarter. That was the scenario this time. Mattio needs she may take away the 3-point foul that led to extra time, however she’s nonetheless happy with the staff’s progress simply within the final week.

“I’m simply actually happy with their resilience. We talked about earlier than (the sport) that it will probably’t be discuss anymore. There must be this motion on the ground,” Mattio mentioned. “That was our mentality tonight. We’re gonna go put our foot down, ship a message all all through the sport that we’re going to remain locked in. My objective was simply, ‘Give us an opportunity on the finish.’ We have been greater than capable of stroll away with that win due to simply our gamers stepping up into the large moments.”

Freshman Gabi Fields set a brand new profession excessive and led all scorers with 36 factors. For reference, males’s basketball captain Daylen Kountz has the identical profession excessive.

Mattio praised Fields, who beforehand hadn’t been taking a few of these huge photographs, for not being afraid.

“We knew their recreation plan was going to be to shade off sure individuals,” Fields mentioned, alluding to juniors Hannah Simental and Delaynie Byrne, “(We’ve) acquired to maintain them trustworthy. Like, ‘You’re gonna have to protect me.’ That’s sort of what I used to be considering going into it.”

Fields clearly wasn’t the one participant with an enormous night time. Kleinhans made photographs late and managed to power the ball out of bounds — off of a CSU participant — to provide UNC possession.

She completed together with her personal profession highs. Kleinhans completed with 16 factors and 12 rebounds, each new private bests and her first-ever double-double.

Then, Mattio referred to as junior Sydney Stensgard the “silent murderer.” Stensgard recorded 17 factors, second on the staff, and made 5-of-6 photographs from 3.

“She was chipping in these three balls, increase, increase, increase,” Mattio mentioned. “Sydney was simply sticking it to all of them out all through the sport. I assumed her contribution was actually key.”

Colorado State was picked to complete third within the Mountain West, however it’ll doubtless be a decent race for the highest. It feels fantastic getting a win. Not solely did the victory come in opposition to an awesome staff, however they acquired the dub for his or her Colorado teammates.

They went 0-2 in Texas, the place they’re each from, and didn’t need that to occur with the in-state rivalries.

“Not being from Colorado, I simply actually wished to get it for the ladies which might be,” Fields mentioned. “So coming in, that was simply sort of the mindset was to be the aggressors. I really feel like we completed that.”

UNC returns to play at 6 p.m. Friday when it hosts South Dakota. The lads’s basketball staff rounds out the rivalry with the Rams this weekend. It performs Colorado State at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Fort Collins.

Notes from the sport

• CSU held Simental to 11 factors, however she made clutch free throws on the finish to seal the win.
• Byrne tied Kleinhans with 12 rebounds, additionally a profession excessive.
• Fields tied for No. 3 in Division I historical past with seven 3-pointers in a single recreation.
• Fields completed 4 factors away from tying the Division I document for factors in a single recreation.
• UNC snapped CSU’s two-game profitable streak.
• Coming into the sport, the Rams had gained 5 of the final six contests. It additionally gained three straight at Financial institution of Colorado Area.