GARDEN CITY, Colo. (Interstat) — The Northern Colorado women’s basketball team controlled play from the start in an 80-60 victory over Portland State on Thursday night at Butler-Hancock Athletic Center. Heather Baymon scored 23 points to lead the Bears, who opened a 23-7 lead after the first quarter and never looked back. Neenah George added 15 points and five assists for Northern Colorado, which improved to 13-5 overall. The Vikings, led by Hannah Chicken’s 10 points, fell to 5-11. Portland State cut the deficit to 12 points in the third quarter but got no closer. Northern Colorado shot efficiently and outrebounded Portland State. An announced crowd of 761 attended the Big Sky Conference game.

GARDEN CITY, Colo. (Interstat) — The Northern Colorado women’s basketball team used a dominant first quarter to establish an early command it would never relinquish, cruising to an 80-60 victory over Portland State in a Big Sky Conference matchup on Thursday night at Butler-Hancock Athletic Center. The Bears, improving to 13-5 overall and bolstering their conference standing, exploded for 23 points in the opening period while holding the visiting Vikings to just seven. That 16-point cushion proved insurmountable for a Portland State team that struggled to find consistent offense until the second half. The Vikings fell to 5-11 with the loss. Northern Colorado’s Heather Baymon was the catalyst for the fast start and the engine throughout. The junior guard from Phoenix scored 23 points, including three first-quarter three-pointers that helped ignite the early run. She added four steals, showcasing a disruptive defensive presence that contributed to 18 Portland State turnovers. The Bears’ backcourt controlled the tempo from the outset. Alongside Baymon, guard Neenah George of Dallas provided 15 points and five assists, while fellow guard Gabi Fields of Brownfield, Texas, directed the offense with five assists and six points. In the frontcourt, Tatum West of Combine, Texas, added 13 points and a game-high eight rebounds, and reserve post Aniah Hall of Temple, Texas, contributed eight points and two blocks. Portland State, which entered the game as a significant underdog according to predictive metrics, never recovered from the initial deficit despite a more competitive second half where they scored 37 points across the third and fourth quarters. The Vikings were led by Hannah Chicken of Taree, Australia, who scored 10 points. Ajae Yoakum of Portland, Oregon, and Taylor Moffat of Mount Barker, Australia, added eight and nine points, respectively. Jamia Carter of Las Vegas also chipped in nine points. The most pivotal segment of the game was undoubtedly the first quarter, where Northern Colorado’s defensive intensity overwhelmed Portland State. The Vikings committed five turnovers in the period and shot poorly from the field, allowing the Bears to build their substantial lead. Northern Colorado’s ball movement and shot-making were sharp, with the team assisting on six of their eight first-quarter field goals. This early burst effectively decided the contest, as the Bears maintained at least a 14-point lead for the remainder of the game. Northern Colorado’s offense was efficient, shooting a solid percentage from the floor and from three-point range, while also capitalizing on free throw opportunities. Portland State, conversely, was hampered by cold shooting stretches and an inability to string together defensive stops to mount a serious comeback threat. The Bears expanded their lead to 41-23 by halftime and weathered Portland State’s most productive quarter in the third, answering every Viking push to enter the final period with a 65-45 advantage. The teams played nearly even in the fourth quarter, with Northern Colorado’s depth allowing them to close out the comfortable win. An announced crowd of 761 at Butler-Hancock Athletic Center saw Northern Colorado continue its strong home-court form. The Bears now look ahead to a quick turnaround, hosting Sacramento State on Saturday. Portland State, mired in a losing streak, continues its road trip at Northern Arizona on Saturday.

Preview: Portland State Vikings at Northern Colorado Bears GREELEY, Colo. (Interstat) — A surging Northern Colorado women’s basketball team will look to protect its home court against a struggling Portland State squad when the Big Sky Conference foes meet Thursday night at Butler-Hancock Athletic Center. The Bears (12-5 overall) enter on a three-game winning streak, including a 69-66 road victory at Weber State last Saturday. Northern Colorado has been strong at home this season, boasting a 7-1 record in Greeley. Portland State (5-10) seeks to snap a two-game skid after falling 68-64 at Sacramento State on Jan. 10. The Vikings have found wins hard to come by on the road, going 1-7 away from Portland. The matchup features two of the conference’s top guards. Northern Colorado is led by Neenah George, who is averaging 16.3 points over her last six games. She dished out six assists in the win at Weber State. Portland State will counter with Kyleigh Brown, who has scored 18 or more points in three of her last five outings, including a 23-point performance against Idaho State on Jan. 3. Northern Colorado’s balanced attack has been key to its success. Alongside George, Heather Baymon and Tatum West provide consistent scoring. The Bears have held opponents to 60 points or fewer in seven of their 12 wins. Portland State, aside from Brown, has relied on contributions from Cici Ellington and Hannah Chicken, who combined for 24 points in the loss to Sacramento State. The Vikings will need to improve their defensive intensity after allowing opponents to score 68 or more points in nine games this season. This contest opens a critical two-game road swing for the Vikings, who face Northern Arizona on Saturday. Northern Colorado continues its homestand against Sacramento State two days after this matchup. Thursday’s game tips off at 7 p.m. Mountain Time.