ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (November 8, 2019) – The ball tipped off and the Northern Arizona women's basketball team was off and running Friday night. The Lumberjacks got out to a blistering start, but despite having four starters score in double-figures, they fell short in an 83-76 season-opening loss to New Mexico in front of an announced crowd of 4,856 in Dreamstyle Arena – The Pit.
"I'm happy with how we started; the players came out with confidence and that showed in the first five minutes and throughout the first quarter," said head coach
Loree Payne. "New Mexico is a very good team and they're athletic. They turned up the heat defensively and we made a lot of mistakes that we won't be making when we're further into the season. We learned a lot and we felt like this a game we should've won."
The game was a stark contrast compared to New Mexico's 29-point victory in the Walkup Skydome exactly 11 months ago as NAU led Friday night's contest for more than 35 minutes. The Lumberjacks went on a 21-2 run to open up a game-high 19 point lead in the first quarter before the Lobos methodically chipped away at the deficit.
After turning the ball over just four times in the first 10 minutes, the 'Jacks committed 21 the rest of the game. New Mexico finished plus-nine in the turnover column and held a 28-7 advantage in points off turnovers. Still, despite NAU's miscues, the Lumberjacks deep into the fourth quarter until the Lobos – a 24-win team from a year ago – snagged a 74-73 lead with 2:41 remaining. New Mexico finished the game on a 11-3 run to ultimately deny NAU.
The shooting percentages were essentially even with New Mexico shooting 39.2 percent compared to 39.1 percent by NAU. The 'Jacks nailed nine threes in the game, outscoring the Lobos by 12 points behind the arc, but the home team posted a 48-30 scoring advantage in the paint. Both teams hauled in 48 rebounds.
Redshirt junior
Jacey Bailey led the four Lumberjack double-digit scorers with 21 points with 11 coming in the first quarter. She knocked down three of her four three-pointers in the opening period.
NAU scored on its first seven possessions of the game spurring the 'Jacks to a 16-4 lead just over three minutes into the game. After a Lobo bucket snapped a nearly three-minute scoring drought by the home team, redshirt sophomore
Nina Radford hit the first of three straight triples to ignite a 9-0 run, which was followed up by two Bailey makes behind the arc.
NAU led 27-12 at the end of the first quarter, but New Mexico began to cut into the lead in the second quarter. Bailey's fourth three-pointer opened the second quarter scoring and put the Lumberjacks ahead, 30-12, but the Lobos managed to slice their deficit to 36-28 with just under four minutes remaining in the half.
NAU's lead was trimmed to 41-32 at halftime and the 'Jacks led by just one, 45-44, four minutes into the third quarter before junior
Lauren Orndoff, who scored 10 of her 14 points in the second half, knocked down a corner three. However, the Lobos beat the third quarter horn with a triple to cap a 6-0 period-ending run to move ahead 56-55 going into the fourth.
Facing their first deficit of the game, the Lumberjacks immediately answered on the first possession of the fourth. After junior
Khiarica Rasheed rebounded an NAU miss, she found Radford for a bucket and Radford was subsequently fouled. Radford completed the three-point play and knocked down two technical foul free throws resulting in a five-point possession that swung NAU back in front, 60-56.
After New Mexico got within two on two occasions, Orndoff continued her torrid second half with a three and followed up with and-1 play to push NAU's lead back out to 68-60 with 6:22 remaining.
New Mexico eventually tied at 72-72 with three and a half minutes to go before Rasheed put NAU ahead for the final time, 73-72, by splitting a pair of free throws with 2:59 on the clock. The Lobos converted on their next possession and proceeded to go on an 8-0 run to essentially lock down the victory.
In addition to her team-high 21 points, Bailey also led the team with eight rebounds. Rasheed recorded 15 points and five boards, while Orndoff scored 14. In her first game as a Lumberjack, Radford finished with 12 points and six rebounds. Redshirt junior
Caitlin Malvar pulled down seven rebounds and tallied a team-high six assists.
"This was a great environment for our players to play in," Payne said. "The fans rallied behind their team in the last five minutes. We played with them and controlled the game for 35 minutes. This is why you play non-conference (games) so you can see where your team is and what you can work on. We are way ahead of where we've ever been and we're very excited to get back to work and welcome Seattle U into our house next weekend."
The Lumberjacks will host Seattle next Saturday, Nov. 16 in the Rolle Activity Center at 2 p.m. The home opener will also be NAU's only game in Flagstaff until its conference opener at the end of December.
