FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - Tyler Stephens-Jenkins three-point shot with 33 seconds left put Northern Arizona women's basketball up for good in the team's 61-57 win over Binghamton at the Hilton Garden Inn NAU Thanksgiving Tournament on Friday.  The close victory was the 100th win at NAU for head coach Laurie Kelly.

 "This was an important win for us and we face another tough team in Drake tomorrow," Kelly said who faced the team she opened her head coaching career with in Binghamton.  "We didn't play our best game but we pulled out the victory.  We have seven home games in this stretch and I said to the team you can't get to seven without first getting to three.  We were able to do that tonight."

NAU (3-2) added its third win at home on Friday after beating North Dakota State and Queens College last week.  Although, Binghamton made the Lumberjacks earn the win.  NAU hit 5-of-12 three-pointers in the first half, three from Amy Patton, and the women went into halftime up 10 points.

The Lumberjacks worked their lead to as many as 15 points, but at the 11-minute mark, Binghamton made its run.  The Bearcats cut the NAU lead down to one over the those final 11 minutes then tied the game at 55-55. 

After a timeout, Stephens-Jenkins hit her game-winning three-point shot putting NAU up 58-55.  Patton and Vickie Toney hit free throws in the closing seconds to secue the NAU win.

Patton finished with a game-high 23 points while Katie Pratt and Jenna Galloway chipped in 13 and 11 points, respectively.  The women shot 39 percent while Binghamton shot 47 percent but NAU outshot the Bearcats 8-3 from three-point range.

The Lumberjacks play Drake at 4:35 p.m. at the Rolle Activity Center in the championship game preceded by the consolation game at 2:35 p.m. between Central Michigan and Binghamton.  Central Michigan lost to Drake, 90-70, in the opening game on Friday.

DID YOU KNOW…Northern Arizona finished third in the Sterling Savings Bank Presidents Cup recognizing academic and athletics performances in 2008-09. The award is based on team grade point averages, graduation rates and the number of all-conference performers with a grade point average above a 3.0, as well as Men's and Women's All Sports points.