FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – All it took was a little more than three minutes for Idaho to build a double-digit lead and unfortunately for the Northern Arizona women's basketball team, that lead held in a 93-83 defeat Wednesday evening. Redshirt senior
Olivia Lucero netted a career-high 36 points as part of a strong offensive performance by the 'Jacks (7-21, 4-13 Big Sky).
"Idaho is a very good team and they have a lethal combination with their shooters," said head coach
Loree Payne. "I felt like we played well tonight minus the first four minutes of the game when their shooters got hot. The biggest difference was rebounding though. We gave up 12 offensive boards which led to 17 points and some of those came at critical times."
Points were aplenty in the Walkup Skydome with both teams shooting at least 50 percent. The Lumberjacks actually outshot the Vandals (52.4 percent to 50 percent), but the Vandals hit four more three-pointers than the 'Jacks (11-7). NAU did shoot a season-best 63.6 percent from behind the arc.
Two areas that also proved to be big differences were points off turnovers and second chance points, which Idaho held commanding advantages. Idaho outscored NAU, 17-5, on second chance opportunities. Both teams limited their turnovers with only 12 combined in the game, but yet Idaho led 11-2 in points off turnovers.
Lucero was the main beneficiary of the offensive showcase, recording her first career 30-point game. She became the first Lumberjack to score 30 in a game since junior
Kaleigh Paplow also totaled 36 points two years ago. Lucero's 36 points are tied for the sixth-most in a game in program history. She shot 13-of-19 from the field and was perfect on all four three-point attempts and all six free throw attempts.
Sophomore
Peyton Carroll also registered a career-high with 14 points off the bench on 7-for-13 shooting. She also pulled down a team-best six rebounds. Paplow was the third Lumberjack in double-figures with 13 points.
The game was won in the first quarter with Idaho racing out to an 11-2 lead and holding a 24-13 advantage at the end of 10 minutes. The Vandals made four of their first five from long distance while the Lumberjacks made just 5-of-16 overall in the period.
The double-digit Idaho advantage held throughout the first half as NAU trailed 48-33 at the intermission. The Lumberjacks' 46.7 percent showing was no match for the Vandals' 60.6 percent clip, but the momentum shifted right out of the break in NAU's favor.
With the help of three triples, NAU opened the second half with a 13-5 run in the first three minutes. Junior
Tate Tsingine forced an Idaho timeout at the 7:13 mark after slicing NAU's deficit to 53-46. The Vandals quickly answered with five straight points to make it a 12-point game, although the Lumberjacks were able to close within eight again. Freshman
Lauren Orndoff's jumper closed the gap to 65-57, but Idaho knocked down a contested three on the final possession to take a 68-57 lead into the fourth.
The 'Jacks made 10-of-16 in the final period, but were unable to climb all the way back. NAU did go on a 7-0 run, with five points coming from Paplow, to get within single digits at 85-76 with 2:16 left in the game. However, Idaho hit a three on the next possession and NAU never got closer than nine the rest of the way.
After trailing by 11 at the end of the first quarter, NAU essentially played Idaho even through the last three periods ultimately losing by 10.
The Vandals outrebounded the Lumberjacks, 36-31, and effectively used their 12 offensive rebounds to their advantage. Idaho had 22 assists to just five turnovers, while NAU recorded 15 assists to seven turnovers.
NAU's .524 field goal percentage was its third-highest of the season as was its 33 made field goals.
"I was really happy with the way we played moving into Friday and then into the tournament," Payne said. "If we can play the way we did tonight, we'll mix it up big time in the Big Sky (tournament)."
The Lumberjacks and Eastern Washington meet up Friday in the Skydome at 6:30 p.m. in the regular season finale for both teams. Prior to tip-off, Lucero,
Kenna McDavis and
Chelena Betoney will be honored during the Senior Night recognition.
Registration for the Sixth Annual Wine Down, scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, closes on Thursday. Fans can register for the pregame social at this
link.
