MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Amy Patton scored 23 points for Northern Arizona women's basketball in the Lumberjacks 82-74 loss to Minnesota at Williams Arena on Wednesday.  It was the second consecutive 20-point effort for Patton against the Big Ten Conference.

NAU (4-8) played the Golden Gophers close throughout Wednesday's game cutting a 10-point lead to two after a three-point field goal from Patton with just under three minutes to play.

The Lumberjacks were outscored 14-4 to end the game but the team shot over 40 percent, produced three players in double figures and forced nine more turnovers than Minnesota on the night.

Patton finished 10-of-26 from the field and 3-of-9 from behind the arc.  Senior Melissa Spaich posted a career game with 13 points on 4-of-7 shooting and converted 5-of-6 free throw attempts.  Freshman Trinidee Trice also put up her best performance of the season with 12 points off the bench.

The Lumberjacks played with Minnesota for most of the game in a matchup that produced six ties and six lead changes.  NAU also hit 14-of-19 free throw attempts (73.7), its best mark this year.  The team came into the game averaging 56.4 percent from the free throw line.

Minnesota (8-5) finished with four players in double figures led by Katie Loberg's 20 points.  The Golden Gophers outshot NAU 53.8 percent to 40.3 percent on the night.

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.