FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The Northern Arizona women's basketball team started fast, but Cal Poly withstood an early Lumberjack flurry to hand NAU an 89-73 defeat Saturday afternoon. The 'Jacks could not sustain a first quarter offensive outburst and in the process saw their record fall to 3-5.
"It was a tough one today," said head coach
Loree Payne. "I felt our team lacked energy and effort. A lot of times when you come off a big win, you can have a letdown. There were moments when I didn't recognize this team offensively or defensively. We're asking for more consistency night in and night out."
Juniors
Kaleigh Paplow and
Tate Tsingine and redshirt senior
Olivia Lucero combined for 16 of NAU's 22 first quarter points as the Lumberjacks landed the first blow on the Mustangs in the Rolle Activity Center. The three players accounted for all 11 points in an 11-3 run that gave the Lumberjacks their largest lead of the game, 20-10, with 1:23 remaining in the period.
However, after a 10-for-18 start from the field (55.6 percent), the Lumberjacks struggled to find an offensive rhythm the rest of the game. NAU shot only 36.2 percent through the final three quarters. Meanwhile, the same could not be said for Cal Poly with the Mustangs shooting 58.3 percent after the first quarter. Cal Poly finished the game with a 50.7 field goal percentage, while NAU was at 41.5 percent.
An 11-4 start by Cal Poly to the second quarter erased NAU's lead and yet despite the final score, the Mustangs led just 40-38 at halftime. The turning point in the game came over a minute and a half span in the third quarter where a Cal Poly 6-0 spurt turned a four-point game into a 52-42 lead with 6:32 left in the period.
A pair of Paplow free throws brought the Lumberjacks within seven at 59-52 with two minutes remaining in the quarter, but a layup and a three – Cal Poly's fourth of the third quarter – provided the visitors with a 12-point lead going into the fourth that would never sink below single digits throughout the final 10 minutes.
Paplow led the 'Jacks with her second double-double of the season, recording 16 points and 10 boards. Freshman
Lauren Orndoff scored 13 points with Lucero and Tsingine chipping in 11 apiece.
Lucero had a nice all-around game, also tallying seven rebounds and seven assists. Tsingine made three triples off the bench in her best offensive showing of the season.
Cal Poly outrebounded NAU, 42-35, and recorded 14 second chance points to just eight by the Lumberjacks. On the plus side, spearheaded by Lucero, the 'Jacks recorded 18 assists on 27 made baskets.
The Lumberjacks will play their final home non-conference game against in-state rival Grand Canyon next Thursday, Dec. 14 at 12 p.m. in the Rolle Activity Center. It will be NAU's fifth annual Field Trip Day game, targeting local youth from the Flagstaff Unified School District.
