HONOLULU, Hawaii – Redshirt senior
Olivia Lucero scored a game-high 23 points, but the Northern Arizona women's basketball team suffered an 84-68 loss to Hawai'i in their first game of the Bank of Hawai'i Classic Friday evening. The loss was Lumberjacks' third consecutive to open the season.
The Rainbow Wahine forced the Lumberjacks into 22 turnovers and kept the 'Jacks from getting into an offensive flow for much of the night. NAU shot just 37.3 percent overall and made only 1-of-7 from behind the arc. The Lumberjacks made the most of their opportunities at the free throw line though, converting on 23-of-28 attempts. Lucero was a perfect 11-for-11 at the charity stripe – the seventh-most free throws made in program history without a miss.
NAU trailed 40-31 at halftime and could not regain its footing after battling offensive consistency, shooting just 34.4 percent from the floor in the first half. The second quarter was a struggle especially with NAU making only 4-of-18 shots while seeing a two-point first quarter deficit balloon up to as much as 11.
The 'Jacks started the game strong, receiving eight early points from redshirt senior
Kenna McDavis in the first five minutes. NAU reeled off six straight points in a 30 second span to take a brief 18-16 lead with 1:20 on the clock in the opening period, but that would its last lead in the game.
A three-point play by sophomore
Peyton Carroll cut the Rainbow Wahine's lead to 31-27 with 3:31 left before halftime, but the Lumberjacks quickly found themselves down 40-29 with under a minute to go with five turnovers committed during that three-minute span.
After being held to just four points in the first 20 minutes, Lucero exploded for 19 points in the second half with nine coming at the line. As a team, NAU made 15-of-19 free throws after halftime, but the Rainbow Wahine's 47.5 percent shooting from the field prevented the Lumberjacks from making a full comeback.
Lucero scored a pair of quick buckets to start the fourth quarter, trimming NAU's deficit to 61-55 and forcing a Hawai'i timeout. Back-to-back layups by Lucero again brought the Lumberjacks within six at 65-59 with 6:24 remaining in the game, but Hawai'i hit a big three-pointer on the next possession to push its lead out to nine. The trey started a 14-2 run for the home team that ultimately put the game out of reach.
McDavis and junior
Kaleigh Paplow finished with 14 points each, while both players snagged a team-best eight rebounds. Lucero tacked on six rebounds and four assists to her stat line.
Hawai'i capitalized on NAU's turnovers, turning 22 Lumberjack miscues into 20 points. The Rainbow Wahine also outscored the Lumberjacks, 44-32 in the paint and 19-14 on second chance points. NAU was outrebounded 43-37 overall.
NAU faces Boise State at 5:30 p.m. MST on Sunday in Honolulu to conclude the weekend tournament.
