FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Northern Arizona women's basketball closed its first and longest home stand of the season with a 69-57 loss to South Dakota at the Rolle Activity Center on Thursday.  The Lumberjacks went 4-3 over the seven-game stretch.

On Thursday, NAU (4-5) missed its first seven shots and was down 8-0 at the first media timeout. 

"We shot the ball poorly tonight," said head coach Laurie Kelly.  "It didn't help we came out slow in the first six minutes.  We weren't sure how they were going to defend us.  They play a different style and once we made some adjustments things started to go better for us."

The Lumberjacks fought back over the next four minutes cutting the South Dakota (6-5) lead to one.  The Coyotes answered and kept a lead throughout the first half entering the break in front of NAU, 35-28.

South Dakota pushed its lead to nine to start the second half, but the Lumberjacks put together a 16-6 run over the next nine minutes to take their first lead of the game with a jumper from Tiffany Amos at the 11:35 mark. 

The Coyotes scored the next five points but NAU responded again to take another lead at 51-50 on a layup by Khyra Conerly with seven minutes to play.  It was the last lead of the game for the Lumberjacks.  South Dakota went on a 13-2 run taking a double digit lead into the final minute of play.

"South Dakota did a great job running the ball and made free throws down the stretch when they needed too," Kelly said.  They rebounded well, but we have to rebound the ball better.  It is an effort thing.  We are struggling inside. We got out hustled.  They rebounded and made shots."

NAU shot 34.8 percent for the game compared to South Dakota who finished 45.8 percent from the field.  The Coyotes out rebounded the Lumberjacks 41-32 on the night.

The women travel to San Diego for their next game on Saturday, Dec. 11 at 3 p.m.  The trip marks the first road game for NAU since Nov. 15 at Arizona.  The game can be seen live online with a free webcast and live stats at www.usdtoreros.cstv.com.

DID YOU KNOW…Junior All-American David McNeill finished second and fellow junior Jordan Chipangama placed fifth to lead the Northern Arizona men's cross country team to its second fourth-place finish in three years and third consecutive Top 10 finish at the 2009 NCAA Cross Country Championships.