Photo Courtesy of Nate Barrett

EUGENE, Ore. – After a nearly 90 minute power outage, the Northern Arizona women's basketball team responded by shooting lights out to begin the second half, but came up short in a 59-47 defeat to Oregon on Saturday in the Matthew Knight Arena. Sophomore Brittani Lusain led the Lumberjacks with 14 points and junior Mariah Willadsen chipped in 12 points in the loss, as NAU (4-4) fell shy after closing within one point after halftime.

"To say that was an odd game would be an understatement, so I was really proud that our team stayed focused and didn't skip a beat," said head coach Sue Darling. "They actually stepped up their level in the second half. We felt like we beat ourselves on a lot of occasions. We fouled too much, we turned the ball over too much and they beat us on the offensive boards and those three things stuck the dagger in us. We were in a position to win the game and we couldn't take the reins to do it."

In front of a crowd of 1,286 in a Pac-12 venue, the Lumberjacks were not intimidated taking a five-point lead, 11-6, on a three-pointer by Lusain and a layup by senior Erikka Banks. However, NAU endured a seven-minute scoring drought following Banks' basket before another jumper by Lusain with 7:46 left in the half. Still, NAU trailed by just three, 16-13, despite its offensive struggles.

Lusain brought the 'Jacks within one, 19-18, with 6:14 to play before halftime, but once again NAU had to fight through an offensive drought. The Lumberjacks would miss their final six shots of the half as the Ducks went into halftime with a 30-18 lead after ending on a 12-0 run.

Just minutes before the start of the second half, the game was thrown a curveball as a power outage struck the entire University of Oregon campus. The outage caused a significant stoppage, yet the Lumberjacks were not deterred as they came out of the gates firing once play resumed.

Although NAU started hot offensively, it was not able to make a move on the scoreboard until a layup by sophomore Bradlee Cotton started an 8-0 run with the 'Jacks trailing 40-31 five minutes into the half. Willadsen followed with three consecutive baskets, the last coming on a layup off an assist from sophomore Rene Coggins that got NAU within 40-39.

Oregon quickly stretched its lead back out to six before Willadsen converted on her fourth field goal of the half to get the Lumberjacks as close as 46-42 with seven minutes remaining. Despite a hard fought effort by NAU, the Ducks once again answered with a run, scoring seven straight points to take a double-digit lead it would not relinquish down the stretch.

Both teams made 19 field goals from the field and shot less than 34 percent for the game, with the difference in the game coming at the free throw line and on the glass. Oregon made 16 free throws compared to just six for NAU in large part due to the Lumberjacks committing 23 fouls. The Ducks also held a 47-40 rebounding advantage.

Lusain added six rebounds and two steals to her 14 points, while Willadsen's 12 points were a new high for the first-year Lumberjack. Senior Raven Anderson grabbed seven rebounds and led the team with three assists and five steals, setting a new career-high in steals. Banks finished with nine points and eight rebounds.

NAU faces a quick turnaround as it prepares for a two-game week at home beginning Tuesday, Dec. 16, at home versus Pepperdine. The game, slated for Field Trip Day for the local Flagstaff youth, will tip-off at 12 noon in the Walkup Skydome.