FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (November 6, 2018) – With a number of new faces, nobody knew what to expect from the Northern Arizona women's basketball team. In a season-opening 86-73 win, the Lumberjacks showed what they are capable of as all five starters scored in double-figures in Tuesday's victory over Fresno State.
Senior Kaleigh Paplow nearly posted a triple-double, registering 21 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists to lead the 'Jacks to their first season-opening victory in four years and just their second 1-0 start since 2007. Paplow was an efficient 9-for-13 from the field and also collected a team-high three steals.
"Our motto is New 'Jacks and we were resilient," Paplow said. "They went on their run late in the game and we just fought back. We played hard and we played together."
Paplow was from the only effective Lumberjack offensively as she was joined in double-figures by each of the starters alongside her. Sophomores Lauren Orndoff and Khiarica Rasheed each scored 12 while redshirt sophomore Jacey Bailey (11) and freshman Regan Schenck (10) were also in double-digits in their respective NAU debuts.
The 'Jacks did the bulk of their damage from behind the arc, draining a school record 15 three-pointers on just 20 attempts. Orndoff was a perfect 4-for-4 from long distance to lead a blistering team performance. NAU had six total players hit multiple threes.
NAU fed off the energy of more than 600 local youth from the Flagstaff Unified School District in attendance for the Sixth Annual FUSD Field Trip Day. Upon arrival in the Rolle Activity Center, each student received an activity packet with games and contests related to the Lumberjacks.
NAU's 57.1 field goal percentage helped offset a glaring 23 turnovers that led to 27 Fresno State points. The Bulldogs' press resulted in 17 steals.
"Fresno State is an athletic team and they pressed us for a lot of the game," said head coach Loree Payne. "Turnovers in practice has been a challenge for us, but that comes with our youth and not making great decisions under pressure. We'll watch the film and get better for the next team that presses us."
Both teams shot well over 50 percent in the first quarter and while the score was knotted up at 24-24 at the end of the opening period, the 'Jacks made it clear from the start that they were comfortable from deep. Orndoff and senior Tate Tsingine each made a pair of threes as NAU drained six of its first seven three-point attempts.
NAU landed the first haymaker of the game with a 9-0 run over a three and a half minute span to take the first double-digit lead of the game, 38-28, with 4:59 left in the first half. The lead grew to as much as 14 at 47-33 following Orndoff's third three-pointer of the game and NAU wound up taking a 49-36 lead into halftime.
After shooting 73.1 percent in the first half, NAU came back down to earth a little in the second half shooting 43.3 percent. However, the Lumberjacks did not let up from behind the arc as they drilled seven of their 15 treys in the final 20 minutes.
The Lumberjacks needed every bit of that as a 17-point third quarter lead was whittled down to six with 7:13 remaining in the game. Fresno State sliced its deficit in half to get within 69-63 before NAU's decisive run put the game away. Orndoff's fourth triple, and NAU's school record tying 13th, kickstarted a 12-2 run to extend the Lumberjacks' advantage back out to 81-65 with 3:43 on the clock.
"We've been getting up a lot of extra shots in practice and that helped today," Payne said. "On any given night, anyone in our starting lineup can give us double-digit scoring. Fresno State is a great team and they have a lot of depth. We're excited to get that first win under our belt and now we're focused on Seattle."
While the Lumberjacks' turnover number was high, they also shared the ball well with 21 assists on 32 made field goals. In her NAU debut, redshirt sophomore Caitlin Malvar came off the bench to tie Paplow for game-high honors with seven helpers. Schenck also recorded five assists.
The 'Jacks limited the Bulldogs to a 39.4 field goal percentage and outrebounded them by a 39-31 margin.
A weekend road trip to Seattle, Wash. is next up for the 'Jacks starting with a 6 p.m. MST tip-off versus Seattle University on Friday. NAU will also face the University of Washington on Sunday before returning to Flagstaff.
