FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (February 6, 2020) – The Northern Arizona women's basketball team had two attempts to send the game into overtime in the final 10 seconds, but both shots were off the mark as Idaho State stunned NAU, 79-76, in the Walkup Skydome on Thursday. The Bengals stormed back from a 24-point deficit to snap the Lumberjacks' three-game winning streak despite a career-high 21 points from junior
Lauren Orndoff.
"Obviously this was a disappointing finish for us," said head coach
Loree Payne. "We started really strong and we got comfortable. That was the conversation in the locker room; we can't get comfortable with any team in the Big Sky. We need to play 40 minutes. There were times we looked really good tonight and there were times that we couldn't defend anyone."
NAU led by as much as 24 early in the second quarter, but its lead was cut to 11 by halftime. The Lumberjacks led by 12 going into the fourth quarter and for nearly 36 of the 40 minutes, but they were outscored 26-11 in the final period.
Idaho State took a 72-71 lead – its first lead since 2-0 – with 2:41 remaining in the game. Redshirt junior
Caitlin Malvar immediately responded with a go-ahead bucket to help NAU regain the advantage, 73-72, on the very next possession. However, Idaho State's Diaba Konate – who finished with a Big Sky season-high 32 points – scored on consecutive possessions to put the Bengals in front for good.
After Konate hit a pair of free throws with 10 seconds left, NAU had two opportunities to tie, but redshirt sophomore
Nina Radford and redshirt junior
Jacey Bailey's three-point attempts drew iron as time expired.
The loss dropped NAU's record to 11-10 overall and 8-4 in conference play. Although the Lumberjacks were outshot 45.6 percent to 37.5 percent, NAU outrebounded Idaho State, 42-35.
Orndoff finished with a career-high 21 points on a career-best 8-for-9 showing at the free throw line. She also tied Malvar for game-high honors with five assists, which were a new season-best.
Rasheed posted 16 points and grabbed five rebounds, while Radford scored 13 points and pulled down six boards. Bailey totaled 11 points and Malvar registered eight points, six rebounds and five assists.
Orndoff scored 11 of her 16 first-half points in the first quarter as NAU blitzed Idaho State early. The Lumberjacks raced out to a 15-4 lead and led 23-8 by the end of the quarter as NAU drained five of its eight three-pointers in the first 10 minutes.
The 'Jacks opened the second quarter with a 9-0 run that pushed their lead out to 32-8 with 7:29 left in the first half. NAU still found itself in front by 20 at 39-19 following a triple by Radford with just under two minutes remaining until halftime, but Idaho State closed with a 9-0 run to get within 39-28.
NAU maintained a lead of at least nine points throughout the third quarter and redshirt junior
Brianna Lehew provided the Lumberjacks with a 65-53 lead going into the fourth with a bucket right before the horn.
In the final 10 minutes, the Bengals methodically clawed back starting with a 13-4 run to climb back within 69-66 with 5:50 to play. A jumper by Radford gave the 'Jacks a 71-66 advantage with five and a half minutes remaining, but NAU missed six of its final seven shots down the stretch as Idaho State rallied for the come-from-behind victory.
"When we start to get towards the top (of the standings), every team is going to play their best game against you and the only way to go is down when you're towards the top," Payne said. "Right now we need to figure out how to have a little more composure. We needed our starting five to close it out and nobody really stepped up to get the job done and that's what has won us games in the past."
The Lumberjacks will host Weber State at 2 p.m. on Saturday in the Skydome as they look to get back in the win column.
