FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (February 14, 2019) – The Northern Arizona women's basketball team made a strong push in the third quarter, but ultimately was done in by an immediate double-digit deficit as the Lumberjacks' two-game win streak was snapped by Portland State, 74-59, Thursday night. NAU (8-15 overall, 4-10 Big Sky) was led by sophomore
Khiarica Rasheed, who totaled 22 points for the second consecutive game.
"At Portland State, we dug ourselves an early hole and we prepare to come out aggressive, but I felt like we were tentative," said head coach
Loree Payne. "We missed some easy shots and to beat a top team in the conference, you have to play a solid 40 minutes and we didn't. Portland State is a very good team and we just have to regroup. We have a great chance to bounce back on Saturday."
Off a three-pointer by Portland State to open the second half, NAU trailed 38-20 before going on an 8-0 run to climb back within 10. NAU would get as close as four on three separate occasions – the last coming at 45-41 with 3:44 left in the third quarter following a pair of free throws by Rasheed – but the Lumberjacks never got closer than eight in the final period.
Portland State hit five of its first six shots in racing out to a 15-4 advantage less than four minutes into the contest in the Walkup Skydome before NAU settled in, particularly on the defensive end. Despite trailing 19-10 at the end of the first quarter, NAU forced Portland State into 1-of-12 shooting after its hot start.
Unfortunately for NAU, the Lumberjacks opened the game 4-of-14 in the first quarter and overall shot 32.1 percent in the first half. Portland State was not much better, significantly cooling down after its hot start to shoot 37.5 percent at the intermission.
Still, the Vikings took advantage of a four and a half minute scoring drought by the 'Jacks in the second quarter to stake claim to a 35-20 halftime advantage. Redshirt sophomore
Brianna Lehew hit a jumper with seven minutes left in the first half to bring the Portland State lead to 23-16, but NAU would not score again until the 2:31 mark. During NAU's scoreless stretch, Portland State went on an 8-0 run to open up a 15-point lead that held at the half.
Although the Vikings were not significantly more effective offensively in the first 20 minutes, Portland State made five threes to none by NAU, providing the exact 15-point halftime margin.
Redshirt sophomore
Caitlin Malvar spurred NAU's 8-0 run to close to 38-28 two minutes into the third quarter with a pair of triples. The 'Jacks got within 41-37 off two freebies by freshman
Regan Schenck and still found themselves within two possessions at 45-41 with under four minutes left in the third quarter.
However, Portland State outscored NAU 8-2 the rest of the third quarter and were never full threatened in the final quarter, maintain a double-digit lead for all but two possessions.
The Vikings finished the game at a 41 percent clip overall and were 37.5 percent from behind the arc. The Lumberjacks, despite shooting 50 percent in the third quarter in outscoring the Vikings by five, closed the game with a 36.2 field goal percentage.
NAU's 16 turnovers – compared to just eight by Portland State – proved detrimental with Portland State holding a 23-10 advantage in points off turnovers.
"At the half, Portland State had 14 points off our 11 turnovers and that was the difference," Payne said. "We lost this game because of our turnovers and in the first quarter. If you eliminate those, we're right there. But we're at the time of the season where you can't say should've, could've, would've."
Malvar tallied eight rebounds to pace NAU's 41-37 advantage on the glass. The Lumberjacks also notched 15 assists on 21 made field goals, led by Schenck's season-high tying five.
Redshirt sophomore
Jacey Bailey chipped in 10 points to back Rasheed's 22 in the scoring column.
In a pivotal game for positioning in the Big Sky standings, NAU hosts Sacramento State on Saturday in the Skydome at 2 p.m. The Hornets, coming off a 75-69 overtime win Thursday night at Southern Utah, are one victory ahead of the 'Jacks in the standings.
