FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (January 9, 2020) – Redshirt junior
Caitlin Malvar posted the first triple-double in program history Thursday night, finishing with 17 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in the Northern Arizona women's basketball team's exhilarating 114-107 double overtime win over Sacramento State. The Lumberjacks (5-8, 2-2 Big Sky) outscored the Hornets 9-0 to start the second overtime in the game-defining run and wound up earning their second straight victory.
Malvar was one of many stars with all five starters scoring 15 or more points led by a season-high 29 points from redshirt sophomore
Nina Radford. Three Lumberjacks also recorded double-digit rebounds with junior
Khiarica Rasheed hauling in a career-high 14 boards.
But Malvar's triple-double stood above all the statistical highlights as she tied her career-highs in points and rebounds. She also posted her first double-digit assist game and committed just one turnover. For good measure, Malvar hit all six of her free throws in the second overtime to put away the Hornets.
"Cat is someone we have to have on the floor because she brings poise and composure," said head coach
Loree Payne. "She's the heart and soul of our team, but Nina had 29 (points) and Jacey (Bailey) hit some big shots down the stretch, so it was an all-out team effort. There's numbers all around when you score 114 points and any win you can get in the Big Sky is huge."
As a team, the Lumberjacks set school records for points scored in a game (114) and assists (31), while tying the school record for field goals made (41). NAU's 14 three-pointers were one shy of the school record. The 221 combined points also marked the highest combined scoring game that NAU has been a part of.
NAU shot 41.4 percent overall and 35.9 percent behind the arc while the 'Jacks posted their third straight game with an 80 percent clip or better at the charity stripe (18-for-21, 85.7 percent). Impressively, the Lumberjacks only committed 11 turnovers against a Hornet team that forced their turnovers into a Big Sky high 22.2 miscues per game.
"I take pride in keeping us composed because that's my role," Malvar said. "It's easy to get sped up against Sacramento State. It was important to spread them out and be methodical, use ball fakes and find players in positions to be successful."
With the game tied at 97-97 after the first overtime, NAU seized control of the second overtime with a 9-0 run to take a 106-97 lead with 2:34 left on the clock. The Hornets went nearly three and a half minutes in the second extra period before they made a field goal, but by then the outcome was all but decided. Radford scored seven of her season-high scoring output in the final period.
NAU and Sacramento State got to overtime after Rasheed muscled her way to the rim to tie the game at 90-90 with 13.7 seconds remaining in regulation. The Hornets had one chance to win the game at the buzzer, but their three-point attempt was off the mark.
The Lumberjacks held a 97-92 lead following a jumper by Radford with 1:35 left in the first overtime, but the Hornets made a late surge. After Sacramento State tied the game with a pair of free throws with 17 seconds left in the first overtime, Radford missed the potential game-winner, although NAU would take care of business in the second and final extra period.
Sacramento State fired away from deep in the first quarter, taking a 30-22 lead after 10 minutes behind six three-pointers. However, NAU posted its highest scoring quarter of the season in the second, outscoring Sacramento State by a 32-14 margin to take a 54-44 lead into halftime. Rasheed scored 10 of her 12 first half points in the second quarter alone during NAU's first 50-point half since Nov. 17, 2018.
Leading 64-57 midway through the third quarter, NAU saw its lead slowly disappear with Sacramento State going on a 6-0 run to trim the Lumberjack advantage to just one. The Hornets took a short-lived lead at 70-69 before Malvar closed the third quarter with a triple to put the 'Jacks back in front, 72-70, going into the fourth period.
In the fourth quarter, the teams traded leads on five occasions and were tied five more times in a closely contested last 10 minutes of regulation. Sacramento State appeared to have control with a 90-85 lead with 2:13 on the clock following a 9-2 run. Radford drilled a three though to cut the Hornet advantage to 90-88 with 1:27 left. The Hornets turned the ball over on their next possession, which led to Rasheed's game-tying layup at the rim setting up overtime.
"It was an exciting game and we definitely made some good plays down the stretch," Payne said. "Sacramento State was on fire. They hit 15 threes and some of those were heavily contested. Fortunately for us we were able to put the ball in the basket as well. I'm proud of the team of how they fought and they showed poise."
Rasheed posted her first double-double of the season with 19 points to go with her 14 rebounds, while Radford came up one assist shy of her own double-double finishing with a season-high nine helpers. Redshirt junior
Jacey Bailey tallied 17 points and eight rebounds and junior
Lauren Orndoff rounded out NAU's starting five with 15 points.
Off the bench, sophomore
Regan Schenck pulled down a season-high 11 rebounds in her first double-digit rebounding game of the season. NAU outrebounded Sacramento State, 62-53, with 21 coming on the offensive end.
The Lumberjacks will aim for a third consecutive win on Saturday on the road at Idaho State at 2 p.m.
