GAME NOTES (PDF)

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - When the ball tips off in Missoula on Thursday at 7 p.m., the Northern Arizona will have a fresh start at hand with the beginning of conference play versus Montana. The Lumberjacks will conclude the first weekend of the Big Sky slate on Saturday at Montana State at 2 p.m. to conclude a four-game road swing.

The Lumberjacks' season-long four-game losing streak was extended prior to the holiday break with two road losses to Youngstown State, 69-67, on Dec. 16 and CSUN, 78-69, on Dec. 18. The 'Jacks are winless in four true road games this season, not including two wins on a neutral court.

Despite their 3-8 record, NAU has two of the Big Sky's top 10 scorers on its side led by redshirt senior Olivia Lucero who ranks eighth in the conference with 16.6 points per game. Lucero has been more than a scorer though as she ranks second in the conference in assists with 5.2 per game and has two double-digit assist games this season.

Redshirt senior Kenna McDavis has been one of the conference's most lethal three-point shooters averaging 3.1 makes per game, placing her fourth. McDavis is second on the team, and ninth in the Big Sky, with 16.5 points per game while pacing the conference with 9.9 rebounds per game.

The Lumberjacks are averaging 75.5 points per game, which is second-most in the conference. However, NAU has not eclipsed 70 points in the last three games. NAU ranks fourth in the Big Sky with a team field goal percentage of .429.

All Big Sky Conference games throughout the remainder of the season will be available on the Pluto TV app or pluto.tv for free. The Lumberjacks' Big Sky opener at Montana will be shown on Channel 237 followed by Channel 238 for their Saturday game at Montana State.

Slim Margin: NAU's 3-8 non-conference record was not fully indicative of its play at times before the start of conference. The Lumberjacks' average scoring margin of -0.1 in 11 non-conference games indicated that their record could have been closer to .500 - at worst. NAU dropped three games by five points or less and five of its eight losses were by single-digits. NAU's three losses by five or fewer points (96-93 to UC Santa Barbara, 88-83 to Rice, 69-67 to Youngstown State) were by a combined 10 points.

One Fact to Know Versus Montana and Montana State: The Lumberjacks have dropped nine straight overall meetings to Montana in addition to nine consecutive losses in Missoula. In last season's meeting in Bozeman, Lucero scored a career-high 29 points against Montana State.

NAU Quick Hits: McDavis ranks fifth in the country with 8.7 defensive rebounds per game...Lucero is 13th nationally with 37.82 minutes per game...NAU is 10th in the Big Sky in scoring defense (75.5 points per game) but is second in field goal defense (.380)...The Lumberjacks rank second in the conference with 43.0 rebounds per game...Junior Kaleigh Paplow ranks sixth in the Big Sky with 7.6 rebounds per game...Sophomore Peyton Carroll recorded her second double-double of the season (10 points, 14 rebounds) versus CSUN.

About Montana: Montana enters conference play having won four of its last six games after starting out 0-5. The Lady Griz, picked third in the Big Sky Preseason Coaches Poll and fifth in the Media Poll, defeated Rocky Mountain, 54-38, last Wednesday in their last contest and are now 4-7. McKenzie Johnston is Montana's lone scorer in double-figures at 10.8 points per game, while also leading the team with 48 assists and 13 three-pointers made. She ranks second on the team with 5.7 rebounds per game. Jace Henderson is averaging 9.4 points per game and ranks fifth in the conference with a team-best 7.7 boards per game. Montana ranks 10th in the conference in scoring offense with 59.5 points per game and fourth in scoring defense with 62.5 points per game allowed. They are second in fewest turnovers and second in turnover margin (+1.36).

About Montana State: Montana State, the defending Big Sky champions, are 6-5 at the start of conference play after dropping three of its last four games including a 75-54 loss to BYU last Friday. The Bobcats were voted third by the Big Sky media and fourth by the coaches. Hannah Caudill is averaging a team-best 12.5 points per game while ranking fourth in the Big Sky in three-point percentage (.453) and fifth in three-pointers made per game (3.1). Madeline Smith is almost averaging a double-double with 10.9 points - second on the team - and 9.5 rebounds per game. Smith is tied for second in the conference in rebounding and fourth with a .530 field goal percentage. Although Montana State is last in the Big Sky in scoring offense at 59.1 points per game, the Bobcats lead the conference in scoring defense with 60.5 points per game allowed. Montana State is also the best at defending the three-point line with opponents shooting only 27.4 percent.