FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The Northern Arizona women's basketball could not withstand a third quarter blitz by Northern Colorado and as a result – despite shooting 47.1 percent as a team – the Lumberjacks suffered an 85-63 loss to the Bears Thursday evening in the Walkup Skydome. NAU's most efficient shooting performance in nearly two months to the day was not nearly enough against the hot-shooting Big Sky leaders with the Lumberjacks' record dropping to 5-19 and 2-11 in conference.
"We needed to defend the three better; they hit 14 threes," said head coach
Loree Payne. "We need to figure out how to put 40 minutes together. We had a big dip in the third quarter. We lose the quarter by 21 and we end up losing the game by 22. I felt like we played defeated and our effort wasn't there in the third quarter."
The Bears' 55.7 percent performance was the worst field goal percentage allowed by the Lumberjacks this season. Behind the arc, Northern Colorado tagged NAU with 14 three-pointers at a 48.3 percent clip.
Northern Colorado's offensive outburst overshadowed an efficient effort by NAU in which the Lumberjacks posted their highest field goal percentage since Dec. 16 at Youngstown State. Although NAU shot 45.5 percent from three, the Lumberjacks made just five triples with the Bears outscoring the 'Jacks by 27 points on three-pointers alone.
The Bears turned what was an eight-point game, 36-28, at halftime into a rout with a 30-point third quarter in which they connected on 12-of-18 field goal attempts. NAU meanwhile netter just nine points in the 10 minutes immediately out of the locker room, which presented the Lumberjacks with too large of a deficit to overcome.
Redshirt senior
Olivia Lucero, who tallied a game-high 25 points, scored a dozen in the fourth quarter to pace NAU's showing in the final period. NAU shot 10-of-15 in the fourth quarter to cut a deficit that grew as large as 32 down to as little as 20.
The Lumberjacks hung with the Bears in the first half, particularly in the first quarter, where they trailed by just two, 16-14, going into the second period. Redshirt senior
Kenna McDavis converted on a nifty reverse layup to tie the game at 20-20 less than two minutes into the second quarter before Northern Colorado gained some separation with a 7-0 run.
Lucero and redshirt freshman
Brianna Lehew snapped the run with consecutive baskets, but another 9-1 Bear run provided them with the first double-digit lead of the game at 36-25 with a minute remaining in the first half. All in all, Northern Colorado scored 16 of the next 24 points after the 20-20 tie and only built on its lead in the third quarter.
Northern Colorado finished the third quarter on a 17-2 run that had the conference leader on their way to a sixth straight victory. NAU was able to regroup and put together a strong fourth quarter with a 7-0 run – with five points from Lehew included – playing a part in trimming 12 points off its largest deficit.
Lucero was 9-for-15 from the field and 6-for-7 at the line to record her second straight 20-point game and eighth of the season. She also led the team with six rebounds, four assists and four steals.
Junior
Tate Tsingine drilled three of NAU's five three-pointers to notch her second consecutive double-digit scoring effort with a season-high tying 11 points off the bench. In a season-high 25 minutes, Tsingine also recorded a season-best four assists.
With both teams shooting well, Northern Colorado won the rebounding battle, 30-28. The 30 rebounds were the fewest by an NAU opponent this season, while NAU also set a season-low with 28 boards.
The Lumberjacks host North Dakota at 5 p.m. on Saturday in the Walkup Skydome. In addition to the game being NAU's annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day, the Lumberjacks will also host Native American Heritage Day with a halftime performance and more.
