OGDEN, Utah – Junior Amy Patton scored a game-high 28 points including a go-ahead basket off a steal with eight seconds remaining to lead NAU to an 85-82 Big Sky road win at Weber State. The Lumberjacks closed their road conference slate with their first road win of the year, improving to 8-17 overall and 3-10 in the Big Sky while Weber State moved to 0-12 in conference and 2-23 overall.

"This was an exciting game and great for us to get a road win," said NAU head coach Laurie Kelly. "I credit our team with staying strong down the stretch, as when we need to make a play we did. Amy really carried us in the first half and made the big play at the end, and we got some key shots from Katie Pratt. We feel good about the win and are looking forward to coming back home."

In a game with several long scoring runs by each team, the Lumberjacks held a 71-57 lead with less than 10 minutes remaining before Weber State rallied back to eventually tie the game at 81 with 1:33 to play. The Bengals used a free throw to go up 82-81, and after NAU missed two free throws the home team had an inbounds play from under their basket with 10 seconds remaining. Patton stole the inbounds pass and made a layup, and after a missed Wildcat shot and two free throw makes by NAU freshman Jasmine Sneed the Lumberjacks secured the win.

Patton scored 17 in the first half and shot 10-of-19 from the field in totaling 28 points, while freshman Erikka Banks (12 points), Pratt (11) and junior Aubrey Davis (11) also finished with double-digit scoring totals. Patton also had five rebounds, three assists and three steals with just one turnover in 36 minutes, hitting four three-pointers. Weber State's Amanda Hughes totaled 20 points and a Big Sky single game record 24 rebounds to lead five Wildcats in double-figures.

The teams traded early baskets with Weber State holding a slim 13-10 lead with 14 minutes to play in the opening half. NAU would score just one basket over the ensuing five minutes, however, as the Wildcats would build a 23-12 advantage. The Wildcats would hold a 27-16 lead with eight minutes to play, but an 11-0 NAU spurt, capped by a three-point strike by senior Katie Pratt, brought the Lumberjacks back even at 27-27. NAU trailed by three with a final possession, and Patton hit a three to bring her first half point total to 17 and knot the game at 40 at halftime.

Weber State opened the second half strong with a 7-3 run to take a 47-43 lead, but the Lumberjacks would respond with a 14-1 spurt over the ensuing three and a half minutes to go up 57-48. NAU continued to put on the pressure, stretching its advantage to 71-57 at the midway point of the second period before the Wildcat rally to take the late lead, only to come up short after Patton's late-game heroics.

Weber State outshot NAU 47.4% to 46.2% and had a 46-34 rebounding edge but committed 22 turnovers compared to just 13 giveaways for the Lumberjacks, resulting in eight more shot attempts and three more made field goals for the visitors. NAU totaled 14 steals to go with seven blocks and made 18 free throws, its second-highest free throw total of the season.

The Lumberjacks return home to host Montana State at 6:35 p.m. Thursday in NAU's Play 4 Kay breast cancer awareness game.