SEATTLE, Wash. (November 9, 2018) – Sophomore
Khiarica Rasheed shouldered the load early and senior
Kaleigh Paplow took over late as the pair willed the Northern Arizona women's basketball team to a 65-58 victory on the road at Seattle on Friday. NAU's victory over the defending WAC champions earned the Lumberjacks just their sixth-ever 2-0 start to a season in their 45-year program history.
Unlike their season opener three days ago, the 'Jacks struggled to score at times as they shot 36.5 percent for the game. In particular, NAU shot just 4-of-23 from three-point range after knocking down a school record 15 threes against Fresno State on Tuesday. However, NAU went to Rasheed and Paplow and the duo delivered a road win against he defending WAC champions.
"Obviously we shot very well against Fresno State, and percentages say you're probably not going to be able to shoot that well," said head coach
Loree Payne. "Compliments to our defense because they turned up the pressure and forced Seattle to take tough shots."
"Khiarica had a game; she was rebounding, scoring and had an all-around great game," Payne added. "KP really put the team on her back in the last five minutes and stepped up as a senior leader. It was really great to see our team's composure down the stretch, especially as a young team."
Rasheed was an unstoppable force down low, netting a career-high 24 points on 11-for-12 shooting. She was perfect from the floor in the first half, converting on all seven of her field goal attempts for 14 points prior to the intermission. Paplow took over late with eight of her 13 points in the final five minutes to help NAU overcome a fourth quarter deficit.
Seattle reclaimed the lead with the initial points of the fourth quarter – for the first time since the end of the first period – and led 54-51 with 5:38 remaining. After two empty possessions, Paplow drew two fouls and converted four free throws on consecutive trips down the court to put NAU back in front, 55-54. The Redhawks answered with a basket, but Paplow's layup with 2:59 left gave the 'Jacks the lead for good, 57-56.
Rasheed followed with two layups and Paplow put the game on ice with her fifth and sixth free throws of the period to make it a five-point game, 63-58, with 20 seconds on the clock.
"One of the biggest differences with this team is they truly believe they're going to win every night," Panye said. "Down the stretch, they were calm, cool and collected and played with a lot of poise. Even when Seattle scored on us, they executed the game plan to a T."
As strong as NAU finished, Seattle started fast leading 14-8 six minutes into the game. Sophomore
Lauren Orndoff tied the score at 16-16 with five points on consecutive possessions, but NAU went into the second quarter down 20-19. However, the Lumberjacks would take an eight-point lead into the locker room behind a suffocating defensive effort.
NAU outscored Seattle, 14-5, before halftime with Rasheed doing the bulk of her first half damage in the second period. Rasheed scored 10 of the Lumberjacks' 14 points while NAU's defense notched five of its eight steals. Redshirt sophomore
Caitlin Malvar recorded two of those five thefts as the 'Jacks went into the half ahead 33-25.
NAU's field goal percentage dipped from 44.8 percent in the first half to 29.4 percent in the second, but even as the Lumberjacks' lead shrunk, they did not panic. Redshirt sophomore
Jacey Bailey gave the 'Jacks a 38-28 lead less than a minute into the second half with a corner three, but NAU's lead stood at just two, 45-43, at the end of three.
Shooting may have been down, but so were the Lumberjacks' turnovers as they decreased their total from 23 on Tuesday to just 10 on Friday. That helped NAU to a critical 18-4 advantage in points off turnovers as the 'Jacks were plus-six in the turnover column.
Seattle did post more rebounds (35-31) and assists (11-7) than NAU, but NAU made four more free throws. The Lumberjacks shot 15-for-18 as a team at the charity stripe including a 7-for-7 performance by Paplow. Friday marked Paplow's most made free throws in game without a miss in her career.
Rasheed and freshman
Regan Schenck each posted a team-high six rebounds, while Paplow tallied a team-leading four assists. Off the bench, Malvar totaled three steals.
NAU will remain in Seattle and will face Washington on Sunday at 3 p.m. MST. The Huskies are 1-0 after defeating Cal State Fullerton, 83-74, on Thursday.
