| Northern Arizona vs. Montana State | vs. Montana |
GAME NOTES (PDF)
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - This week represents the end of the first half of conference play and the Northern Arizona women's basketball team squares off against Montana State and Montana for the second time this season in the Walkup Skydome. NAU, on a four-game losing streak, hopes to reverse the tide, and exact some revenge on both the Bobcats and Lady Griz on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday at 5 p.m. respectively.
The Lumberjacks' opening weekend of the conference schedule in the Treasure State was an uneven one. NAU led Montana by 21 points in the third quarter on Dec. 28 in the Big Sky opener for both teams, only for the Lady Griz to rally for a 70-62 overtime victory. Two days later, the Lumberjacks suffered their worst defeat of the season, 81-39, to Montana State.
Last week, the Lumberjacks' skid was extended with losses to Eastern Washington, 82-62, and Idaho, 83-68, on the road. Both opponents were deadly from three-point range as Eastern Washington and Idaho combined for 28 threes at a 44.4 percent clip.
Redshirt senior Olivia Lucero was a standout for the 'Jacks last week, averaging 16.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists in the two games. She led the team in all three categories and for the season, she sits in 10th in the Big Sky with a team-best 15.5 points per game. Lucero leads the Big Sky with 4.8 assists per game. Redshirt senior Kenna McDavis ranks second on the team with 15.1 points per game and is second in the conference in rebounding at 9.0 per game. McDavis has hit 48 three-pointers and is just two away from cracking the top 10 single season chart in program history.
A positive from last weekend was NAU's bench, who had its best two-game stretch of the season since the opening month of the season. The Lumberjacks bench averaged 23 points per game last week.
The Lumberjacks are averaging a Big Sky low 59.9 points per game in conference play and allowing the second-most points at 75.1. NAU is shooting only 35.3 percent from the field with opponents shooting 42.1 percent.
All NAU students will have an opportunity to pick up the new Kiss My Axe t-shirts at Thursday's game versus Montana State. Free pizza will also be made available to all students at halftime. At Saturday's game versus Montana, all fans will receive a free NAU yowie.
NAU-TV will televise both of this week's games and on Suddenlink Channel 4 and 104 in Flagstaff. Viewers in Phoenix will be able to catch Saturday's game on CW6. Both games will be streamed on the Pluto TV app or pluto.tv for free and watchbigsky.com.
One Fact to Know Versus Montana State and Montana: The Lumberjacks' lone win in the last 13 meetings with Montana State came at home on Jan. 24, 2015. NAU has dropped the last 10 meetings with Montana including four straight at home.
NAU Quick Hits: McDavis grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds in the first season meeting versus Montana...The Lumberjacks are still fifth in the Big Sky in overall scoring offense with 69.4 points per game despite their struggles...NAU is also fifth in field goal defense (.395) in overall games...The Lumberjacks turned the ball over just six times against Idaho last Saturday...Lucero, McDavis, junior Kaleigh Paplow, sophomore Peyton Carroll and freshman Lauren Orndoff started on Saturday for the first time since Dec. 3...The five players comprised NAU's starting five for the first six games of the season.
About Montana State: Montana State is one of four teams with a 4-3 mark in conference play after defeating Montana, 81-64, at home last Saturday in its only game of the week. The Bobcats are 10-8 overall. Hannah Caudill leads four Bobcats in double-figures with 12.3 points per game on the season and is fourth in the conference in three-point shooting (.422). She is averaging a team-high 4.1 assists per game overall and leads the Big Sky with 5.4 assists per game in league play. Delaney Junkermier is actually leading Montana State in scoring during conference play, ranking fifth in the Big Sky with 18.0 points per game. In league play, Junkermier is shooting 55.9 percent from the field and paces the conference with 60.6 three-point percentage. Montana State has significantly increased its offensive production in conference play, ranking second with 76.7 points per game. The Bobcats rank second in field goal percentage (.455) and first in three-point percentage (.410) while allowing just 64.9 points per game in conference games.
About Montana: Montana is in a four-way tie atop the standings at 5-2 in conference play after its 81-64 road loss to rival Montana State last Saturday. The Lady Griz have been streaking since the start of conference to even their overall record to 9-9. McKenzie Johnston leads the Lady Griz in scoring with 11.9 points per game and 13.7 per game in conference play. Johnston also averages 5.6 rebounds and a team-leading 4.4 assists per game. Jace Henderson ranks fifth in the Big Sky with 8.3 rebounds per game in league play. For the season overall, Henderson leads the team with 7.9 rebounds per game and is also the team's second-leading scorer at 9.2 points per game. Montana has been stingy on the defensive end, allowing a Big Sky low 62.4 points per game in conference play. Opponents are only shooting 39.6 percent against them, offsetting a Lady Griz offense that is only averaging 65.1 points per game in Big Sky games.
