FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Forty minutes in Flagstaff is a whole lot different than it is in Tucson. The Northern Arizona women's basketball team made sure Arizona left knowing that as the Lumberjacks run and gunned their way to an 84-66 victory over the Wildcats Thursday night in the Rolle Activity Center. The win was NAU's first over a Pac-12 opponent since it defeated Arizona State in 1995, snapping a skid of 20 consecutive losses.
The Lumberjacks' losing streak to the Wildcats went back even further as NAU last knocked off Arizona nearly 29 years to day on Dec. 9, 1988. NAU had lost eight straight meetings since that victory by an average margin of 23 points. Arizona had not visited Flagstaff in exactly two decades.
NAU (3-4 overall) put the pedal to the metal, particularly in the second half, to use its 7,000 feet advantage to the fullest. What was a 39-37 Lumberjack lead at halftime turned into a 12 point advantage after three quarters and grew to as much as 21 points with under a minute to play in the contest.
"We focused on pushing the ball this week and we wanted to get back to transition offense because we're successful when we do that," said head coach
Loree Payne. "For the first time in my career as a Lumberjack, I felt the 7,000 (foot) advantage. You could tell that (Arizona) was getting tired, and we did not take our foot off the gas."
Whether it was off a missed shot or a turnover – NAU had a season-high 10 steals – the Lumberjacks pushed the ball up the court, resulting in everything from layups to open three-pointers in transition.
Redshirt senior
Olivia Lucero had a spectacular game, scoring 23 points on just nine shot attempts. She was a perfect 4-for-4 from three-point range, tying a career-high, while also knocking down 9-for-10 at the free throw line. Lucero also led the team with eight rebounds, while tallying four assists and four steals.
She was one of five Lumberjacks in double-figures with freshman
Lauren Orndoff next in line with her best game of her young career. She shot 7-for-11 from the field on her way to a season-high 16 points.
"I knew we had the potential, but it took a lot of hard work in practice this week," Orndoff said. "Arizona is a good team, but we came in focused and made it happen."
The Wildcats actually led after the first quarter, 20-15, in large part to eight offensive rebounds that led to seven second chance points. However, the lead changed hands for the final time with three minutes left in the first half when redshirt senior
Kenna McDavis was fouled on a three-point attempt and made 2-of-3 at the line to put NAU in front, 31-30. Lucero also knocked down a pair of free throws with 1.7 seconds on the clock to snap a 37-37 tie going into the locker room.
The second quarter was just a sign of things to come for the Lumberjacks as they followed up a 60 percent field goal showing in the period by shooting 61.5 percent in the third quarter to decisively pull away. The NAU lead was just two at 49-47 halfway through the third quarter, but finished on a 10-0 run to lead by a dozen going into the fourth. Orndoff and sophomore
Peyton Carroll scored buckets before McDavis drilled two of her four three-pointers on the evening to complete the run.
The double-digit lead held, and was extended, throughout the remainder of the game with NAU converting on 11-of-12 attempts at the charity stripe to deny Arizona of any opportunity to rally.
NAU was blistering all game from the deck, shooting 54.5 percent overall and 61.5 percent from behind the arc. The Lumberjacks also shot 76.2 from the line. Aside from Lucero and Orndoff, McDavis (14), junior
Kaleigh Paplow (13) and Carroll (12) also finished in double-figures. All five players shot better than 50 percent from the field as the team tallied 20 assists on 30 made baskets. Paplow recorded a career-best seven assists.
The Lumberjacks' defensive efforts were just as impressive as the Wildcats shot only 34.8 percent, which included a 4-for-17 showing in the decisive third quarter. It was the fourth consecutive game that NAU held its opponent under 35 percent shooting. The 'Jacks were tenacious with Paplow leading the charge, setting a new career-high in steals as well with six.
NAU's rebounding also improved after the first quarter with the Lumberjacks holding a plus-five margin on the glass in the final three quarters. Although Arizona still wound up with a 40-34 edge on the boards, the Wildcats only collected nine offensive rebounds after the opening period.
"It's a big win for us and a big win for our conference," Payne said. "But for us, we've been celebrating the process and we've been so close in so many games. We've been trying to put things together and tonight, we came out and got a really solid win. It builds confidence, and I'm super proud of this team."
The 'Jacks return to the court on Saturday versus Cal Poly at 3 p.m. in Rolle.
