GAME NOTES (PDF)

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - For the first time in two decades, the Northern Arizona women's basketball team will have a home game versus Arizona when the two teams collide on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in the Rolle Activity Center. The game will be the first of two for the Lumberjacks this week at home as they start a three-game homestand - their final before starting conference play - with NAU also welcoming Cal Poly to Flagstaff on Saturday at 3 p.m.

The Lumberjacks are looking to rebound after seeing a late lead slip in an eventual 80-73 loss to Denver this past Sunday. NAU led for the first 35 minutes of the game, but saw its two-game win streak come to an end.

NAU, now 2-4 this season, has reached 70 points in four of six games this season. The 'Jacks are leading the Big Sky with 80.5 points per game, but their defense has also come along in their last three games with their last three opponents - Boise State, Antelope Valley and Denver - shooting only a combined 26 percent from the field.

Although the Lumberjacks continue to be led by redshirt senior Olivia Lucero, who ranks sixth in the Big Sky with 18.5 points per game, redshirt senior Kenna McDavis has totaled two straight double-doubles. She continues to average a double-double this season with 17.2 points and 11.2 rebounds per game. She ranks ninth in the conference in scoring and is the conference leader in rebounding, with the bulk of her boards coming on the defensive end where she ranks third in the nation with 9.3 defensive rebounds.

At Thursday's game, the first 250 students who claim the special offer on the Lumberjack Loyalty app will receive a holiday ornament. In the spirit of giving, NAU will also host a Coat Drive at both of this week's games. Fans can trade a gently used coat or sweater for a free general admission ticket with additional tickets for their party available at $3. Fans will also receive a raffle ticket for a drawing at halftime.

Both games will be televised live by NAU-TV and will be available on local Suddenlink channels 4 and 104. Thursday's game will also be shown live on the Fox Sports Arizona PLUS secondary channel as well as Fox College Sports Pacific. Fans can also watch it on the FOX Sports GO app or FOXSportsGO.com.

Saturday's game will be picked up live on Fox Sports West in addition to Fox Sports Arizona and Fox College Sports Pacific.

As always, the games will also be available for free at pluto.tv or the Pluto TV app on Channel 239.

Arizona History Lesson: Although the Wildcats hold the 25-6 all-time series advantage over the Lumberjacks, the 'Jacks have found success when the two teams have met in Flagstaff. NAU is 5-9 all-time at home versus their counterpart from Tucson, although the teams have not played in Flagstaff since Dec. 1, 1997. The Lumberjacks' last win over the Wildcats was Dec. 9, 1988 by a 74-64 score at home.

Two Tales on the Offensive Glass: NAU has cleaned up well on the offensive glass, but it has also struggled to finish the possession on the opposite end. The Lumberjacks rank second in the conference with 15.3 offensive rebounds per game with three players ranked in the top 10 individually. Junior Kaleigh Paplow leads the team and ranks third with 3.2 offensive rebounds. Freshmen Khiarica Rasheed (2.7) and Lauren Orndoff (2.5) rank eighth and 10th respectively. However, NAU is 11th out of 12 in opponent offensive rebounds. Only Sacramento State (17.9) is allowing more offensive rebounds to its opponents than NAU's average of 17.8.

NAU Quick Hits: NAU ranks 32nd in the country in scoring...The Lumberjacks are also 14th in fewest turnovers (89) and rebounds per game (46.8) nationally...McDavis' 11.2 rebounds per game places her 16th in the country...Paplow leads the Big Sky with a .611 field goal percentage...Lucero paces the conference with 36.8 minutes per game...Lucero, McDavis, Paplow, Orndoff and sophomore Peyton Carroll have started all six games.

About Arizona: Arizona has lost five straight since opening the season with two wins to stand at 2-5. The Wildcats, who were voted 11th by both the media and coaches in the preseason Pac-12 poll, most recently fell to San Diego State, 78-67, at home on Sunday. JaLea Bennett leads the Wildcats with 15.9 points per game and has eclipsed 20 points in each of her last two contests. She is one of four players scoring in double-figures for Arizona. Sam Thomas has been doing it all, averaging 10.0 points and a team-best 8.0 rebounds. She also leads the team with 15 blocks and is second with 16 steals. Arizona is averaging 66.7 points per game while allowing 69.0 on average. The Wildcats are shooting 40 percent from the field and have been incredibly efficient at the free throw line converting at a .768 clip.

About Cal Poly: Cal Poly takes a 3-3 record into a five-game road trip starting in Flagstaff. The Mustangs have won their last two games, 88-83 over San Francisco and 77-44 over Cal State Monterey Bay. Cal Poly was tied for fourth in the Big West Media Poll and sixth in the Coaches Poll. Lynn Leaupepe, a Preseason All-Big West selection, paces the team in scoring at 17.2 per game while shooting 48.1 percent from the field. Leaupepe also leads the Mustangs with 6.7 rebounds per game. Devin Stanback is second behind Leaupepe in scoring with 12.3 points per game. Stanback is leading the team with a .588 field goal percentage. Cal Poly has been slightly outscored on average this season, 71.2-70.8, and has struggled at free throw line with just a .590 percentage. Cal Poly is shooting 40.9 percent as a team from the field.