2008 Woodie Awards
Women's basketball team to clash with Air Force
Peter Rossi
Issue date: 12/5/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
The Bears are looking to clip the Falcons wings as Air Force heads to Greeley tonight for a 7 p.m. game at Butler-Hancock Sports Pavilion.
The University of Northern Colorado women's basketball team (4-3) is coming off a 67-58 victory against Pacific on Sunday. They held the Tigers to just 32.9 percent shooting in what has been a common theme for the Bears. Defensively they have held all of their opponents this season to a modest 36.8 percent shooting and just 62.7 points per game.
"Our defense creates our offense and we have a lot of great girls that love to defend the ball and get after it," junior guard Whitley Cox said. "Air Force is a really hard team to defend. They have great shooters on the team but we're looking forward to D them up and win the game."
The Bears, despite a lack of size up front, have also out-rebounded their opponents this season by a plus four margin. Assistant coach Paige Sauer said crashing the boards will be important against Air Force.
"Rebounding, in the end, is the answer to winning some games," Sauer said. "I think we have to do a good job, and we're undersized so we really have to emphasize it every game."
With a victory, the Bears will match last season's win total of five.
Cox, who poured in 26 points against Pacific, said this team is better than last year's squad.
"With a win we'll be even with how many wins we had last year and we're looking forward to match that and surpass that," she said. "I think we have a really good chance to do that (tonight)."
In order to beat the Falcons, the Bears will have to get better possessions and limit turnovers. They gave up 17 points to Pacific on second-chance points and will have to tighten up that aspect of play.
Senior center Danielle Hagen, who is averaging 11.4 rebounds per game, said the Bears didn't play their best, but were still able to win against Pacific.
"We definitely need to clean it up from our last game," Hagen said. "We had way too many turnovers and it's not going to be something we can get away with every game."
The Bears are 3-0 at home this year and are building toward a legitimate home court advantage. Sauer said the men's and women's teams have both played well at home this year and noted the importance of winning at home.
"The men and the women are both doing a good job at home this year and we want to keep it up and maintain our intensity," Sauer said.
The University of Northern Colorado women's basketball team (4-3) is coming off a 67-58 victory against Pacific on Sunday. They held the Tigers to just 32.9 percent shooting in what has been a common theme for the Bears. Defensively they have held all of their opponents this season to a modest 36.8 percent shooting and just 62.7 points per game.
"Our defense creates our offense and we have a lot of great girls that love to defend the ball and get after it," junior guard Whitley Cox said. "Air Force is a really hard team to defend. They have great shooters on the team but we're looking forward to D them up and win the game."
The Bears, despite a lack of size up front, have also out-rebounded their opponents this season by a plus four margin. Assistant coach Paige Sauer said crashing the boards will be important against Air Force.
"Rebounding, in the end, is the answer to winning some games," Sauer said. "I think we have to do a good job, and we're undersized so we really have to emphasize it every game."
With a victory, the Bears will match last season's win total of five.
Cox, who poured in 26 points against Pacific, said this team is better than last year's squad.
"With a win we'll be even with how many wins we had last year and we're looking forward to match that and surpass that," she said. "I think we have a really good chance to do that (tonight)."
In order to beat the Falcons, the Bears will have to get better possessions and limit turnovers. They gave up 17 points to Pacific on second-chance points and will have to tighten up that aspect of play.
Senior center Danielle Hagen, who is averaging 11.4 rebounds per game, said the Bears didn't play their best, but were still able to win against Pacific.
"We definitely need to clean it up from our last game," Hagen said. "We had way too many turnovers and it's not going to be something we can get away with every game."
The Bears are 3-0 at home this year and are building toward a legitimate home court advantage. Sauer said the men's and women's teams have both played well at home this year and noted the importance of winning at home.
"The men and the women are both doing a good job at home this year and we want to keep it up and maintain our intensity," Sauer said.
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