Northern Colorado’s Byrne powers Bears women’s basketball to win over Montana State

Delaynie Byrne scored 23 points, grabbed nine rebounds and handed out five assists to lead the Northern Colorado women’s basketball team to a 58-53 win over Montana State in a Big Sky Conference game Saturday at Bank of Colorado Arena in Greeley.

Byrne totaled team highs in all three categories, helping the Bears to their third-straight win and a weekend sweep of Big Sky games at home. UNC (2-1 Big Sky, 7-7 overall) beat Montana 67-57 Thursday in their conference home opener.

Byrne shot 66% percent from the field (8 of 12) including 4 of 7 from 3-point range to finish two points off her high point total for the season. Byrne scored 25 points in a 96-37 win Dec. 3 over NAIA opponent Northern New Mexico.

Byrne’s 23 points allowed her to slip past senior guard Hannah Simental as the team’s leading scorer with 15.6 points.

Simental scored 12 points on four 3s against the Bobcats and is averaging 15.1 points.

Freshman Tatum West and sophomore Gabi Fields added eight and seven points, respectively.

Guard Seneca Hackley, whose 3-point shooting was key in the win over Montana Thursday, was 0 for 7 from the field against Montana State. Hackley, though, made three free throws in the final 23 seconds to help the Bears hold their lead. She also had seven rebounds.

“Montana State is defensive-minded and gritty, and they are a tough, tough team,” UNC coach Kristen Mattio said in post-game comments. “As a team, we held our ground. We had our moments with key defensive stops, a big score when we needed it, and Seneca’s free throws in the final moments. We are starting to settle in offensively and our depth is starting to showcase itself.”