Photo Courtesy of Alexander Anderson

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – After a blistering first half offensively, the Northern Arizona women's basketball team went cold from the floor at the wrong time, scoring just three points in the final 6:51 as CSUN stole a 77-71 victory in the Walkup Skydome on Thursday. The Lumberjacks shot 57.1 percent in the first half, but saw their field goal percentage drop to 34.6 percent in the final 20 minutes as they fell to 4-6 this season, suffering their third straight defeat.

"I think we need more grit and determination at the end of a game," said head coach Sue Darling. "I thought we were pretty tough for 34 minutes and then we let up. Against a quality team like that, that doesn't work. Although I don't like the result, what I liked about the game was that every player got to play and they all came in and did something positive. I was really proud of that, so while it hurts to lose we're moving in the right direction."

The Lumberjacks went inside early and often to start the game as seniors Raven Anderson and Erikka Banks combined for the first 14 points. NAU shot its way out to an 18-9 lead seven minutes into the game, but CSUN managed to tie the game at 23-23 and took a 29-25 lead with six minutes before halftime.

Junior Monique Mulder drove the lane on the next possession and her layup started a momentum-turning 12-0 run which guided the Lumberjacks to a 37-29 advantage with just over three minutes remaining in the first half. The Matadors hung close, but on the heels of their strong offensive performance the Lumberjacks took a 43-37 lead into halftime. While NAU was efficient from the field, its defense routinely forced CSUN into tough looks as the Matadors shot just 33.3 percent before the break.

The Matadors quickly knotted the score up at 43-all by scoring the first six points of the second half, forcing a timeout by NAU. The second half remained close with neither team taking sizeable control of the game, yet it was the Lumberjacks who held a five-point edge, 63-58, following back-to-back baskets by junior Mariah Willadsen and Mulder with 8:49 remaining in the game.

Four straight free throws by sophomore Bradlee Cotton and Willadsen maintained NAU's five-point cushion, 68-63, with 6:51 to play before the Lumberjacks' offense started to struggle. As NAU missed its next seven shots from the field – and turned the ball over four times – CSUN took advantage by jumping ahead on the scoreboard. By the time Lusain converted on a three-pointer to cut the Matador lead to 74-71, just 37 seconds remained in the game. Those would be the final Lumberjack points of the game though, as the Matadors would leave with the victory.

"I was really happy about the way we played in the first half, but we came out a little lackadaisical to start the second half and that cost us," Darling said. "At the end of the day, CSUN is a very good team and we're going to learn a lot from this game. We're going to move on focus on the Lobos for Sunday."

The senior tandem of Anderson and Banks combined for 43 points as they helped NAU win the points in the paint by a 36-28 margin. Banks finished with her fourth double-double of the season, totaling a season-best 25 points along with 11 rebounds. She also dished out a career-high five assists. Anderson recorded 18 points.

Lusain posted her first double-double of the season and was three points shy of a triple-double. She notched 12 rebounds and 12 assists – both season-highs and one shy of her career-bests – and scored seven points. Mulder and Willadsen finished with eight and six points respectively.

NAU wound up shooting 46.3 percent, outshooting CSUN who shot 37.3 percent. The 'Jacks also held a 39-36 rebounding edge and shot 83.3 percent from the charity stripe, but turned the ball over 11 times in the second half alone. For the game, NAU posted six more turnovers than CSUN which led to a five-point Matador advantage on points off turnovers.

The Lumberjacks play their final non-conference game on Sunday in Albuquerque, N.M. against New Mexico in The Pit. Tip-off is 1 p.m.