RELATED CLICKS:
Northern Colorado notes | Montana notes | Montana State notes | Big Sky Conference notes

SOME STORY LINES:

• With Portland State and Eastern Washington facing each other Friday, Northern Colorado has a grand opportunity in these two matches. If the Bears win two and the Eagles down the Viks, NC would be a full match ahead in the title chase.
  

• Bears head coach Lyndsey Benson also has a chance to shine this weekend. Benson, who took over the Northern Colorado program in 2005, enters Thursday’s match 70-71 in her career. Two wins, and she’ll be a “winning coach.”

• With just three home matches remaining, Northern Colorado is on the cusp of setting a program record for home attendance. The Bears are averaging 756 per through nine matches; the record is 773 per across 12 matches in 2002.

• Montana has struggled a bit with consistency this season, but the Griz have twice knocked off a first-place team in the conference. UM defeated defeated Eastern Washington last Saturday and also knocked off then-No. 1 NC on Oct. 10.