Photo Courtesy of Brian Achenbach

AMES, Iowa – For the second straight game on the road against a Power Five conference school, the Northern Arizona women's basketball team gave their opponent more than they bargained for. However, behind a strong fourth quarter, Iowa State escaped with a 79-63 win on its home court to send NAU into Big Sky play with a 4-7 overall record.

"I was really proud of the way we played," said head coach Sue Darling. "We came out with a lot of grit, desire and determination, but we just didn't have the killer instinct at the end of the game. That will come though and putting everything into perspective, I'm really proud of the way we've competed the last 11 games. While we didn't come away with as many wins on the scoreboard as we wanted, we kept getting better and better."

Junior Rene Coggins got the Lumberjacks rolling early and often hitting three three-pointers in the first quarter. Her final of three from long distance gave NAU an 11-10 lead halfway through the opening stanza, but a 9-0 run Iowa State propelled the Cyclones towards a 24-18 lead after 10 minutes.

Coggins did the heavy lifting from behind the arc to start, then her teammates picked it up in the second quarter. Freshman Passionate Amukamara connected on a corner three to put NAU ahead 31-30 with 5:23 to play before halftime, only for the Cyclones to seize back the lead. The 'Jacks would receive a three-pointer from junior Catelyn Preston right before the half as they closed within 41-40 heading into the locker room.

The Lumberjacks hung with the Cyclones by hitting 7-for-11 from long distance in the opening half and Coggins carried a team-high 12 points into the intermission. NAU's long distance prowess helped offset a commanding 20-4 points in the paint advantage for the much bigger Iowa State squad.

With the lead exchanging hands in the third quarter, the Lumberjacks grabbed their biggest lead of four with 3:48 to play in the period. Freshman Alyssa Rader converted on a layup off a feed from senior Monique Mulder and junior Brittani Lusain followed with a coast-to-coast layup, which resulted in a three-point play. Following the surge, NAU led 54-50, only to go scoreless the remainder of the quarter as Iowa State scored the next seven points.

In all, the Cyclones scored 16 of the next 18 points after Lusain's three-point play and the 'Jacks were never able to get back into the game as they trailed by as much as 11 before they had to resort to fouling to extend the ballgame.

Iowa State outscored NAU, 22-9, in the fourth quarter to pull away denying the Lumberjacks of the upset just three days after NAU similarly held a third-quarter lead at Nebraska.

"I was proud that we came out with the will and confidence to win," Coggins said. "Iowa State adjusted really well to our offense and we needed to adjust a little quicker. The goal of pre-conference play is to get us ready for conference. Playing these types of amazing teams will help us in so many ways. Both Iowa State and Nebraska had inside play that will prepare us for the Big Sky."

The offensive stats were even across the board with Iowa State making just one more field goal than NAU and the three-point field goals being equal at eight. However, the Cyclones won the game at the charity stripe where they made 14 more free throws and attempted 17 more than the 'Jacks.

The Lumberjacks shot just 34.3 percent from the floor, but the Cyclones were not much better at 38.1 percent. Iowa State used its size advantage towards holding the rebounding edge at 49-42.

Where NAU shined was in its ball movement for the second consecutive game, led by Preston's season-high six assists. In all, the Lumberjacks registered 20 assists.

Rader posted a team-high 17 points and collected 13 rebounds to notch her seventh double-double of the season. Coggins played all 40 minutes and wrapped up the game with 14 points, four rebounds and four assists. Lusain also totaled a double-double – her third of the season – with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Preston had a strong game off the bench finishing with four points and five rebounds to go along with her six assists.

"The strength of our team is our team," Darling said. "That's showed today with 20 assists on 23 field goals, which is incredible offense. I thought we played pretty good team defense as well. After 11 games, I'm happy but not satisfied with where we are but I believe we're in a good place heading into conference play."

NAU opens up conference play at the defending champions Montana on New Year's Eve. The Lumberjacks play the Lady Griz at 4 p.m. in Missoula, Mont. on Dec. 31 before trekking to Montana State on Jan. 2.