FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (February 11, 2020) – The Northern Arizona women's basketball team faces a critical week on the road with the conference tournament just four weeks away. The Lumberjacks' road trip begins at Northern Colorado on Thursday at 7 p.m. and concludes at Southern Utah on Saturday at 2 p.m.
NAU begins the week in sole possession of second place in the Big Sky, a half game ahead of Idaho, with a 9-4 conference record. The Lumberjacks are 12-10 overall after splitting their homestand last week. NAU rebounded from a 79-76 loss to Idaho State to post a 92-61 rout of Weber State as the 'Jacks have won nine of their last 11 games.
With one win on the road trip this week, the Lumberjacks will register their first double-digit win conference season in 13 years. Should the 'Jacks win both games, they would tie that 2006-07 team for the second-most Big Sky victories in a season in program history with 11.
Junior
Khiarica Rasheed, the Big Sky's leading scorer in league play, also has an opportunity to reach a milestone this week as she is just 31 points shy of becoming the 18th player in program history to reach 1,000 career points. She would be just the seventh member of NAU's 1,000 point club to accomplish the feat in three years.
Rasheed leads the Big Sky in scoring with 18.7 points per game in conference games. In all games, Rasheed is second with an average of 16.0. Rasheed is also NAU's leading rebounder with 6.8 per game following her fourth double-double of the season last Saturday versus Weber State.
The Lumberjacks will be looking for their third straight win over Northern Colorado going back to last season. NAU has never defeated Northern Colorado three straight times. NAU bested Northern Colorado, 72-45, on Jan. 18 behind 17 points and eight rebounds from redshirt junior
Jacey Bailey.
Northern Colorado posted a convincing 78-51 victory at Portland State on Monday to improve to 10-11 overall and 6-6 in conference play. The Bears are two wins behind a top five seed, which would give the Bears a first round bye in the Big Sky Tournament.
NAU will also be aiming for its third consecutive win and the season sweep against Southern Utah. The Lumberjacks were led by redshirt sophomore
Nina Radford in their first meeting, an 84-76 victory on Jan. 16, with the Thunderbirds this season. Radford scored 19 points in the victory.
Both games will be streamed on Pluto TV
online and on the Pluto TV app. Thursday's game will be on Channel 541 and Saturday's game will be on Channel 536.
About Northern Colorado:
Record: 10-11, 6-6 Big Sky
All-Time Series: UNC, 22-7
Last Meeting: NAU, 72-45 (Jan. 18, 2020)
About Southern Utah:
Record: 12-9, 6-6 Big Sky
All-Time Series: NAU, 24-15
Last Meeting: NAU, 84-76 (Jan. 16, 2020)
