| Northern Arizona at Idaho State | at Weber State |
GAME NOTES (PDF)
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - The Northern Arizona women's basketball team is in search of a streak buster on the road this week at Idaho State and Weber State. The Lumberjacks and Bengals begin the week in Pocatello, Idaho at 7 p.m. The week concludes versus the Wildcats in Ogden, Utah at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
NAU's only Big Sky win of the season thus far was against Weber State back on Jan. 4 and it came in thrilling fashion. Trailing by 17 points in the third quarter, the Lumberjacks went on a furious rally that was capped by redshirt senior Kenna McDavis' game-winning shot with 18 seconds left in the game. Two nights after the 76-75 win over Weber State, NAU fell to Idaho State, 75-55. The Lumberjacks shot just 28.3 percent in the loss to the Bengals.
Since the Weber State win, the Lumberjacks have been on a six-game losing streak that they take into the start of the second half of conference play. NAU begins the stretch run on the Road to Reno with a 1-8 conference record and a 4-16 overall mark. Last week, NAU suffered a pair of losses to Montana State (78-56) and Montana (69-52) at home.
McDavis carried the Lumberjacks with redshirt senior Olivia Lucero and junior Kaleigh Paplow both missing time last week with injuries. McDavis averaged 19.5 points in two games and leads the team with 15.6 points per game for the season. She is also averaging a team-best 9.0 rebounds per game, placing her second in the Big Sky.
A pair of freshmen also stepped up with Khiarica Rasheed averaging 9.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game last week. Rasheed was outstanding at the free throw line going 12-for-14 (85.7 percent). Entering last week, she was shooting 46.7 percent at the line for the season. NAU also got contributions from Lauren Orndoff, who averaged 9.5 points and 6.0 rebounds across the two games versus the Montana schools. Orndoff played all but three combined minutes last week.
NAU has scored 60 or less points in four of its last six games and are averaging only 58.6 points per game in conference play. In the last four games, opponents have made 45 three-pointers at a 42.1 percent clip.
This week's games will be streamed on the Pluto TV app or pluto.tv and watchbigsky.com. Thursday's game will be on Channel 243 and Saturday's game will be on Channel 235.
Turn the Page: It is no secret the first nine games of the 18-game conference schedule has been tough for the Lumberjacks, but they can hit the restart button and change their course as Reno gets closer. Since defeating Weber State, NAU has dropped six straight games by an average margin of 16.2 points per game. Five of the six defeats have been by 15 points or more and three have been by 20-plus points. Over the course of the last six games, the Lumberjacks have a field goal percentage of just .331 and a three-point percentage of .260. Conversely, NAU's opponents' field goal percentage is .419 and three-point percentage is .396.
One Fact to Know Versus Idaho State and Weber State: NAU has beaten Idaho State in Pocatello since 2009 spanning seven meetings. NAU's most road wins over a conference opponent is 13 against Weber State, but the Lumberjacks have lost two straight in Ogden.
NAU Quick Hits: NAU has shot 77.6 percent from the free throw line over the last six games...The Lumberjacks are tied for first with North Dakota with 41.5 rebounds per game overall...NAU is No. 19 in the country with 29.2 defensive rebounds per game...Paplow returned from a one-game absence last Saturday versus Montana...Paplow is averaging 10.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game...Orndoff, Rasheed, sophomore Peyton Carroll and redshirt freshman Brianna Lehew are the only four players to appear in all 20 games this season.
About Idaho State: Idaho State fell to Weber State, 84-73, for the second time this season last Saturday on the road. The Bengals, who had won their previous two games, are 12-7 overall and 4-4 in conference. Brooke Blair is averaging a team-high 14.7 points per game and leads the Big Sky with a .455 three-point percentage for the season. In conference play, Blair is averaging 15.9 points per game and is shooting 50.6 percent from the field. Grace Kenyon is second on the team with 12.1 points per game and is leading the team with 7.1 rebounds per game. Kenyon also leads the team with 58 assists and is shooting 48.7 percent from the field. Idaho State paces the league in overall field goal percentage (.443), field goal defense (.362) and three-point percentage (.373). The Bengals are averaging 71.5 points per game and is third in the league with 62.3 points per game allowed.
About Weber State: Weber State defeated Idaho State, 84-73, at home last Saturday and has won five of its last six games since it lost to NAU. The Wildcats are a half-game out of first place entering the week with a 6-2 record and are 14-5 overall. Larryn Brooks ranks third in the Big Sky in scoring at 20.1 points per game as well as third in three-point shooting with 3.6 threes per game. Brooks is shooting 39.2 percent from behind the arc and is also averaging 4.2 rebounds per game. Jocelyn Adams is second in the Big Sky with 8.8 rebounds per game while also averaging 8.0 points per game in conference play. Also in conference play, Adams is shooting 52.8 percent from the field. Weber State is leading the conference with 75.0 points per game in all games and is the second-highest scoring team in league play with 77.0 points per game. The Wildcats are allowing 69.6 points per game and is fourth in the Big Sky in both field goal shooting (.432) and three-point shooting (.356).
