POCATELLO, Idaho (Interstat) — Neenah George scored 19 points and Aniah Hall added 14 as Northern Colorado defeated Idaho State 67-56 in a women’s basketball game Thursday night at Holt Arena. The Bears led 31-25 at halftime and maintained control despite a late push from the Bengals. Northern Colorado shot 40.4% from the field and made 15 of 19 free throws. Idaho State was held to 35.5% shooting. Gabi Fields added 11 points for Northern Colorado, which improved to 11-5 overall. Kacey Spink led Idaho State with 13 points. The Bengals fell to 9-5. Attendance was 860.

POCATELLO, Idaho (Interstat) — In a game defined by defensive pressure and offensive struggles, the Northern Colorado women’s basketball team used a dominant first quarter to establish a lead it would never relinquish, defeating Idaho State 67-56 in a Big Sky Conference matchup Thursday night at Holt Arena. The visiting Bears, improving to 11-5 overall, sprinted to a 21-15 lead after the opening period, capitalizing on early Idaho State turnovers and inefficient shooting. That initial cushion proved vital in a contest where neither team found a consistent offensive rhythm. Northern Colorado’s offensive rating of 93.0 points per 100 possessions, while not stellar, significantly outpaced Idaho State’s mark of 76.0, as the Bengals shot just 35.5% from the field and committed 17 turnovers. Northern Colorado guard Neenah George led all scorers with 19 points, providing crucial scoring bursts throughout the game. Her backcourt mate, Gabi Fields, added 11 points and a team-high four assists. Inside, Aniah Hall provided a major spark off the bench with 14 points, and Julia Riley contributed 10 points and stout interior defense. The most important stretch of the game came late in the third quarter, as Idaho State threatened to close the gap. After a three-pointer from Idaho State’s Kacey Spink cut the Northern Colorado lead to 33-30 with 3:15 left in the period, the Bears responded with a decisive 7-0 run. It was anchored by their defense and the play of Hall. The sequence included a layup from Hall, a steal by Tatum West, and another Hall basket assisted by West. This pushed the lead back to 10 points and effectively stifled the Bengals’ momentum, allowing Northern Colorado to enter the fourth quarter with a 49-36 advantage. Idaho State, which fell to 9-5, made a final push in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Bears 20-18 behind the efforts of Spink and Aspen Caldwell. Spink finished with 13 points and four assists, while Caldwell added nine points. The Bengals managed to trim the deficit to single digits on several occasions, but each time Northern Colorado answered with a key basket, often from George or Hall, to maintain control. The game was a sloppy affair, with the teams combining for 35 turnovers and just 14 total assists. Both teams recorded seven steals and four blocks, underscoring the defensive emphasis. Northern Colorado won despite being outscored 16-8 in points off turnovers, finding an edge instead at the free-throw line, where they made 15 of 19 attempts compared to Idaho State’s 8-for-12 performance. Northern Colorado’s ability to build an early lead and then withstand Idaho State’s rallies with timely responses from its key players was the defining narrative. The victory came against the odds, as pregame analytics gave the home-standing Bengals a 72.8% probability to win. An announced crowd of 860 at Holt Arena saw the Bears secure a critical conference road win as they look to build momentum. Northern Colorado travels to face Weber State on Saturday. Idaho State, which saw a three-game winning streak snapped, will host Northern Arizona on Saturday.

POCATELLO, Idaho (Interstat) — A key early-season Big Sky Conference women’s basketball clash is set for Thursday when the Idaho State Bengals host the Northern Colorado Bears at Holt Arena. Both teams enter with winning momentum and nearly identical records. Northern Colorado (10-5, 1-1 Big Sky) is coming off a dominant 77-58 home victory over Montana last Saturday. Idaho State (9-4, 2-0) has won its first two conference games on the road, including a 72-63 win at Portland State. The matchup features two of the league’s top scorers in a compelling guard duel. Northern Colorado’s Heather Baymon is averaging 21.2 points over her last five games, coming off a career-high 29-point performance against Montana. For Idaho State, Tasia Jordan has been equally potent, averaging 16.6 points in her last five outings and dropping 20 points in the win at Portland State. The Bears’ offense runs through Baymon and forward Aniah Hall, who nearly posted a double-double with 19 points and nine rebounds against Montana. Point guard Gabi Fields facilitates, dishing out nine assists in that same game. Idaho State counters with a balanced attack. Alongside Jordan, Aspen Caldwell and Kacey Spink provide additional scoring and playmaking, each recording five assists in the Portland State victory. The Bengals have won four of their last five, with their defense holding opponents to an average of 54.8 points during that stretch. Northern Colorado has shown resilience on the road this season, with notable non-conference wins at UC Davis and DePaul. Idaho State has protected its home court, going 4-1 at Holt Arena so far. This game marks the first of two regular-season meetings between the teams. They will meet again in Greeley on Feb. 7. The outcome will provide early positioning in a competitive Big Sky race. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. MST Thursday. Idaho State remains at home to face Northern Arizona on Saturday, while Northern Colorado travels to play Weber State the same day.