FINAL SCORE: Idaho 62, Northern Colorado 55
RECORDS: Idaho (16-5, 7-1), Northern Colorado (15-7, 6-2)  
IDAHO LEADERS: Hope Hassmann and Lorena Barbosa (15 points), Debora Dos Santos (seven rebounds), Ana Pinheiro (four assists)
 
NOTABLES:  

• The Vandals are now tied with Montana State for first place in the Big Sky – the Bobcats play later today
• Idaho is the first team in the conference to reach 16 wins
• This is the fifth time this season and the third game in a row Hope Hassmann has led the team in scoring
• Hassmann is now at 953 career points
• Idaho now leads the conference with seven away wins

QUOTABLES
"I'm incredibly proud of our team today. They executed our game plan to perfection and made big stops and huge shots down the stretch. We continue to find ways to win when teams take away things we are good at. Northern Colorado did a great job boxing us out and keeping us out of transition, but our group found a way. That's what championship teams do!" – Arthur Moreira 
 
GREELEY, Colo. – The Idaho Vandals Women's Basketball team (16-5, 7-1) played under the bright lights of the Big Sky Conference Game of the Week and in front of 2,700 fans on Thursday morning, escaping Greeley with a 61-55 win over Northern Colorado (15-7, 1-6) for its seventh conference win. 
 
The Bears struck first, getting out to a quick 6-0 lead against the Vandals. After falling behind, Lorena Barbosa and the Vandals struck back, as the Brazilian post player put up eight of her game-high 15 points in the first quarter. Trailing by three in the waning moments of the first quarter, Kyra Gardner pulled up from the top of the key and splashed a three prior to the buzzer, tying the game up at 18 at the end of the first.
 
Idaho pounced all over the Bears to start the second, getting out to a 9-0 run that was capped by an Ella Uriarte three-pointer, forcing Northern Colorado to call a timeout. The Vandals took a four-point edge to the locker rooms at 35-31. 
It was a slow third quarter for both teams and Idaho's lead was slashed to a single point at 39-38. Hope Hassmann made three free-throws to expand the lead, but the two sides were deadlocked at 42 heading to the fourth.
 
The Vandals scored five quick points with a Barbosa tip in and a three-ball from Kyra Gardner to give the Vandals a five-point lead. Idaho and Northern Colorado went back and forth, the Vandals went up by as much as seven points following a layup from Debora Dos Santos with 2:51 left forcing the Bears to play from behind for the rest of the game. Idaho won its conference-leading seventh road game of the year, taking the victory 62-55 from the Bears in the Big Sky Game of the Week.

UP NEXT: Idaho returns home for a Saturday game against Northern Arizona. Idaho will be celebrating its Tribal Nations Game on Saturday, Jan. 31. Tip off is at 2 p.m.

TICKETS: Tickets can be purchased here or by calling the Vandal ticket office at (208) 885-6466.  

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