FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – To cap off Alumni weekend with Hall of Famers, 1,000 point scorers and some of the all-time greats in attendance, the Northern Arizona women's basketball team played inspired. The result was a thrilling last second 63-62 victory over Idaho State, a win which snapped the team's five-game losing streak and provides the 'Jacks with a full steam of momentum going into the second half of conference play.

"I spoke with (some of the alumni) today and they inspired us to forget about the wins and the losses," said freshman Alyssa Rader. "Sure the wins and losses are important – that's why we play the game – but their message was to go out and play and have fun. Tonight summed that up. At the end of the day, we're all Lumberjacks and we'll always be Lumberjacks and (the alumni) really motivated us."

Rader was the driving force in the Walkup Skydome Saturday night as she finished with game-highs of 23 points and 14 rebounds to notch her 10th double-double of the season. Her final two points of the game coming off a feed from junior Catelyn Preston with 26.8 seconds remaining were of the utmost importance as it proved to be the game-winner allowing NAU to finish the first half of conference play with a 2-7 Big Sky record.

The game did not start off promising for the Lumberjacks (6-14 overall), as they missed their first six shots allowing the Bengals to storm out to a 9-0 lead. NAU finished the first quarter strong though, scoring the final seven points – the last three coming on an and-1 from senior Mariah Willadsen – to bring the scoreboard even at 12-12.

NAU's three-point shooting – 50 percent in the first half – allowed the home team to take a slim lead, 33-31, into halftime despite shooting just 38.7 percent from the field overall. The Bengals held a 27-22 advantage in the final three minutes of the half before junior Rene Coggins and Preston connected on back-to-back three-pointers to push the Lumberjacks in front. Idaho State briefly took back the edge, but NAU went into the break ahead with Rader and freshman Kaleigh Paplow combining for 15 points and 14 rebounds in the first half alone.

The halftime deficit did not deter Idaho State as it controlled the third quarter, outscoring NAU by seven and shooting 53.3 percent from the field in the process. With the 'Jacks ahead by one, 46-45, the Bengals knocked down two triples in the period's final minute to stun the Lumberjacks momentarily; only for the 'Jacks to come alive in the fourth.

The Lumberjacks found themselves down eight, 62-54, with 4:20 left in the game before Preston drained a long jumper to start NAU's final rally. Three free throws by Rader – who had her best performance of the season at the charity stripe shooting 9-for-11 – cut the Idaho State lead down to three with 2:33 remaining and Preston's running jumper with 1:09 on the clock made it a one-possession game.

After the Bengals airballed a three-pointer, the Lumberjacks regained possession with 36 seconds remaining, which set the stage for Rader's game-winning layup from the right block. Idaho State would miss its final look of the game –its fifth straight miss to end the contest – with five seconds left, sealing up a much-needed NAU victory.

"Thursday was not our finest hour and this team bounced back really strong," said head coach Sue Darling. "We can talk about X's and O's, but it was really their desire to do what it takes to win that allowed us to win the game. It was getting stops when we needed stops, getting to the free throw line and rebounding the ball. I couldn't be more proud of this great team effort all the way around."

While Rader was the headline player, Preston scored a season-high 11 points off the bench, a number that was matched by junior Taylor Leyva. Paplow finished with eight points and a season-high 11 rebounds to go along with a team-high four assists and two steals.

NAU narrowly outshot Idaho State, 37.5 percent to 36.5 percent, for the game and outrebounded the Bengals by one, 43-42. The Lumberjacks also cut their turnover number in half to 14 after committing a season-worst 28 on Thursday versus Weber State.

The victory sends the 'Jacks on the road for next week's games at Eastern Washington and Idaho for the start of the final five weeks of the regular season with a great amount of positive momentum.

"The energy tonight just felt different," Preston said. "Personally, I know I brought more. Tonight I dedicated myself to playing for my teammates and it paid off. As a team, we figured out some things and it paid off. We were scoring, we were getting stops and making extra passes. Ending with a win is going to be huge heading into the next half of (conference play)."

The Lumberjacks will take on Big Sky co-leaders Eastern Washington in Cheney, Wash. next Thursday at 7 p.m. Arizona time before making the short trip to Moscow, Idaho to face Idaho on Saturday.