GAME NOTES (PDF)

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - Before embarking on one final road trip to close their non-conference schedule, the Northern Arizona women's basketball team will host their Fifth Annual Field Trip Day on Thursday in the Rolle Activity Center. The Lumberjacks will welcome in-state rival Grand Canyon to Flagstaff for a 12 p.m. matinee game with over a 1,000 kids from the Flagstaff Unified School District expected to be in attendance.

NAU split a pair at home last week, first defeating Arizona, 84-66, before falling to Cal Poly, 89-73. The second half proved to be the difference in both games with the Lumberjacks taking a two-point halftime lead against the Wildcats and pushing it out to 21 in the third quarter. Meanwhile, NAU trailed Cal Poly by two at halftime, then found itself going into the fourth quarter down a dozen. NAU is now 3-5 this season with all three of its victories coming in the last five games.

Redshirt senior Olivia Lucero was named the Ready Nutrition Big Sky Player of the Week earlier on Tuesday following her performances versus Arizona and Cal Poly. She currently ranks seventh in the league in scoring with 18.1 points per game for the season while leading the conference in minutes played at 37.4 per game.

Her backcourt mate, freshman Lauren Orndoff, has also found her stride of late, scoring in double-figures in three of the last four games. That includes a season-best 16 points against Arizona last Thursday. In that span, Orndoff is averaging 11.5 points per game.

Thursday's contest can be heard locally on KAFF Country Legends 93.5 FM/AM 930 as well as online at nauathletics.com/listen. Fans can watch the game on Pluto TV Channel 239 via the Pluto TV app or pluto.tv.

Lucero Locks Up POTW: Lucero was named the Big Sky's Player of the Week on Dec. 12 following her performances against Arizona and Cal Poly. Lucero became the first Lumberjack to receive the honor since Erikka Banks on Jan. 5, 2015. She averaged 17.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists across two games and shot 50 percent from the field, 62.5 percent from three and 91.7 percent from the free throw line. Lucero recorded 23 points, eight rebounds and four steals in the victory over Arizona on Dec. 7, and followed that up with 11 points, seven rebounds and seven assists versus Cal Poly on Dec. 9.

Welcome Back 'Cats: Arizona's return to Flagstaff was not a friendly one as NAU snapped an eight-game losing streak to the Wildcats with an 84-66 victory last Thursday. It was Arizona's first visit to Flagstaff in two decades. With the Lumberjacks' convincing victory in the Rolle Activity Center, they posted their first win over their in-state rival from Tucson since 1988. The victory also snapped a 20-game skid to Pac-12 (Pac-10) opponents. NAU last defeated a Pac-12 opponent (Arizona State) in 1995. NAU led by only two at halftime before upping the tempo in the second half. Using its 7,000 foot advantage, the Lumberjacks run and gunned the Wildcats and led by as much as 21 in the fourth quarter.

NAU Quick Hits: NAU leads the Big Sky and ranks 31st in the country with 80.0 points per game...The Lumberjacks rank second in the conference, and No. 40 nationally, with 43.8 rebounds per game...NAU also ranks second in field goal percentage (.434) and field goal defense (.377)...Junior Kaleigh Paplow recorded her third double-double of the season versus Cal Poly...Paplow leads the conference with a .563 field goal percentage...Redshirt senior Kenna McDavis remains third nationally with 8.9 defensive rebounds per game.

About Grand Canyon: Grand Canyon, voted fourth in the preseason WAC Media Poll and fifth in the Coaches Poll, has dropped three straight games to fall to 2-8 this season. On Sunday, the Lopes was defeated 79-65 on the road at Washington. Brie Mobley leads the team with 19.5 points and 7.6 rebounds per game in addition to 38 assists. The preseason All-WAC First Team selection is shooting 47.5 percent from the field. Jessica Gajewski ranks second on the team behind Mobley with 12.9 points per game. She is tied for team-high honors with 24 made three-pointers and is shooting 37.5 percent from behind the arc. Grand Canyon has been outscored on average by seven points a game, allowing 71.3 points per game while averaging 64.3 points of its own. The Lopes are only averaging 30.9 rebounds per game with their opponents averaging 41.3 boards.