BYU COUGARS || 5-0, 0-0 Big 12 Conference
WHAT'S AT STAKE || With a win, BYU would match the best start to begin a season of Coach Whiting’s tenure (2023-24) and move to 6-0 for just the fifth time since 2005.
THE BIG SKY TRIFECTA || The Cougars look to go 3-0 against the Big Sky Conference after taking down Idaho 67-62 in the season opener and Idaho State 77-68 last weekend in their first road test.
COUGAR ASSIST CLUB || BYU has assisted on 82 of 137 (.599) made field goals this season and has had three or more players finish in double-figures in four of five games this season. Against the McNeese Cowgirls, the Cougars had five players with 11+ points, a feat that only occurred twice last season.
THE MARK OF A UNIFIED TEAM || After the win over Colorado State on Wednesday, senior guard Lauren Davenport said of her performance, “I only had one shot attempt the whole game, but I don’t care, because we won.” The Cougars share the love. In two of their first three games, three or more players have finished in double figures.
RUN-AND-GUN || With a virtually new roster, the Cougars have retooled their offensive approach, playing a four- and five-out system built on playing with pace, space and casting from behind the arc. The Cougars have attempted 24 3-point field goals per game this season, 4.8 more than their 2023-24 average, and making 8.8 per contest.
Head Coach – Amber Whiting
- Alma Mater: BYU, 2001
- Division I Career Record: 37-34 || 3rd Season
- Record at BYU: 37-34 || 3rd Season
NORTHERN COLORADO || 2-2, 0-0 Big Sky
GREAT START TO THE MATTIO ERA || Head Coach Kristen Mattio is in her fourth season at the helm of Northern Colorado Basketball. Since taking over the Bears program, Mattio’s squad is 44-21 since 2020. Mattio is one win away from her 200th career victory and would be the first coach in Northern Colorado history to reach the 200-win mark.
SLEUTH OF DANGEROUS BEARS || Through four games, the Bears have eight players averaging 6.3 points or more and six scoring more than 8.5 points per game.
Aniah Hall is the leading scorer for UNC at 13.8 points per contest on 52.8 percent shooting, 77.3 percent from the charity stripe and has taken the most free throws of any Northern Colorado player (22). London Gamble is the other Bear that scores in double-figures at 10.8 per game on 44.4 percent from the field and 46.2 percent from downtown.
CRASHING THE GLASS || The Bears have three players who bring in 6.5 or more rebounds per game: Tatum West at 7.5, Julia Riley at 7.0 and Hall at 6.5. Of the 30 rebounds in four games for West, 11 have come on the offensive end. In fact, 41 of the 149 (.275) total rebounds for Northern Colorado come on the offensive glass.
Head Coach – Kristen Mattio
- Alma Mater: Evangel, 2003
- Career Record: 199-87 || 10th Season
- Record at Northern Colorado: 45-52 || 4th Season