FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The Northern Arizona women's basketball team led wire-to-wire in an all-around sharp performance Monday night, defeating New Mexico Highlands, 84-53, in their lone exhibition game before officially starting the 2014-15 season. Senior Erikka Banks led four Lumberjacks in double-figures with 17 points in just 20 minutes of action.

"We have a team of 12 players who work really hard and play really well together," said head coach Sue Darling. "They're great teammates and team players who are selfless and take pride in putting the ball in the hoop. They're a fun bunch to coach and a fun bunch to watch."

Banks scored the game's opening bucket on the first possession and the Lumberjacks took it from there scoring the first 10 points of the contest. After the Cowgirls sliced the deficit in half at 25-20 with 6:21 left in the first half, Banks answered with back-to-back layups. Junior Mariah Willadsen capped a 6-0 run that pushed NAU's lead out to double-digits again, eventually taking an 18-point 43-25 lead into halftime.

Banks led the NAU charge in the first 20 minutes with 13 first half points as the 'Jacks shot 51.7 percent from the field. Sophomore Rene Coggins chipped in eight points before half.

The second half started in near identical fashion as the first, with the Lumberjacks opening with a 12-0 run spurred by eight points from senior Raven Anderson. New Mexico Highlands was held off the scoreboard for nearly five minutes coming out of the intermission in which it trailed by 30 points – 55-25 – before knocking down a triple at the 15:02 mark.

Freshman Tori Lloyd was the story of the second half posting a widely successful NAU debut with 13 of her 16 points coming after halftime. For the game, Lloyd shot 6-for-11 from the field and knocked down 4-of-7 from long distance.

"It felt really good and I couldn't have done it without my teammates," Lloyd said. "I was definitely nervous but they helped me out. They got me my shots and it was definitely all them tonight."

The Lumberjacks would lead by as much as 35 points in the second half and showcased what fans can expect from the team this season on both ends of the court in victory. NAU was effective in all facets offensively, shooting 49.2 percent for the game, 41.7 percent from three-point range and 84 percent (21-of-25) from the free-throw line. Defensively, the 'Jacks held New Mexico Highlands to just 27.6 percent from the field.

Four Lumberjacks finished with double-figure points with Willadsen – in her first game as a 'Jack – and Anderson each finishing with 12 points behind Banks' 17 and Lloyd's 16. Sophomore Brittani Lusain grabbed 11 rebounds in NAU's dominating 46-32 advantage on the glass and also dished out seven assists, tied with sophomore Catelyn Preston for game-high honors.

NAU officially gets the season started next Friday, Nov. 14 in its home opener against UC Irvine. The game will tip at 5:30 p.m. in the Rolle Activity Center.