FRESNO, Calif. (November 24, 2019) – The Northern Arizona women's basketball team shot nearly 50 percent for the game, but were plagued by turnovers in an 83-66 loss to Fresno State Sunday afternoon. The Lumberjacks (1-3) were minus-10 in the turnover column and the Bulldogs took advantage of it, outscoring the 'Jacks by a 27-11 margin in points off turnovers.
"Fresno State pressed us pretty much the entire game and there were moments where we handled the press, but the majority of the game we were back on our heels against their pressure," said head coach
Loree Payne. "In the second half we did a much better job of attacking, but we had a big lapse in the second and third quarter which hurt us. We shot the ball well except from three, and if we knock down a couple of those that we usually make and it's a different game."
Fresno State entered Sunday's game ranked fourth in the country in fewest turnovers per game with 10.2 and the Bulldogs capitalized on the Lumberjacks' miscues. NAU committed 19 turnovers to just nine by Fresno State. The extra possessions also resulted in Fresno State taking 15 more shot attempts from the field.
The second quarter was the difference in the game with Fresno State outscoring NAU, 25-8, before halftime. Aside from the second quarter, NAU played Fresno State even throughout the rest of the game. However, nine of NAU's 19 miscues came in the second quarter resulting in a 13-0 advantage off turnovers for the home team.
In addition to points off turnovers, Fresno State also dominated the three-point line as it shot 14-for-27. Meanwhile, NAU was just 3-for-15 from behind the arc.
The two factors negated NAU's most efficient shooting performance of the season with the Lumberjacks shooting 48.2 percent to the 42.3 percent by the Bulldogs. Redshirt junior
Jacey Bailey led the 'Jacks with 17 points and seven rebounds, also helping NAU to a 40-34 advantage on the glass.
Fresno State made just three of its first 16 shots from the field during which NAU held its largest lead of the game, 14-9, with 2:33 remaining in the first quarter following a jumper by redshirt sophomore
Nina Radford, who finished with 15 points. However, the first quarter ended in a 19-19 tie after the teams traded threes in the final 30 seconds.
After playing to a tie in the opening quarter, NAU turned it over four times during a 16-1 Fresno State run in the first three minutes and change of the second period. While NAU was limited to just two field goal attempts in 3:18 of the second quarter, Fresno State hit on 6-of-7 shots in building its large advantage.
The run was enough in helping Fresno State take a 46-27 halftime lead and the Bulldogs' advantage grew to as much as 27 at 60-33 with 5:47 left in the third quarter. From there, junior
Khiarica Rasheed scored 11 of her 15 points to help NAU cut into its deficit, 66-48, heading into the final period.
The Lumberjacks did not stop there as Bailey drained a three and Rasheed converted a pair at the line to get the team within 66-53 with 7:41 to play as NAU went on a 20-6 run following its largest deficit of the game. However, Fresno State immediately answered with a trey to halt NAU's momentum and the Lumberjacks were unable to get closer than 14 the rest of the way.
Both Rasheed and Radford pulled down six rebounds to go along with 15 points apiece while Radford also recorded a team-high four assists and two blocks. Senior
Peyton Carroll came off the bench to score eight points on 4-of-5 shooting and registered five rebounds.
"We have a lot to learn from this game, but that's why we play a tough non-conference schedule," Payne said. "We want to learn about ourselves as a team so we're ready to go when conference play starts."
NAU will look to end its modest two-game losing streak this upcoming weekend on the road in the Lone Star State. The Lumberjacks will take on Rice on Saturday, Nov. 30 and Houston Baptist on Sunday, Dec. 1 with both games set for 1 p.m. MST starts.
