FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (January 19, 2020) – Having snapped a four-game losing streak before heading back out on the road, the Northern Arizona University women's basketball team will now face off with the team who ended its season a year ago.
Eliminated from the Big Sky Conference tournament in the semifinals last March, the Lumberjacks (6-6, 4-4 Big Sky) drew within one possession late in the fourth quarter against the Bobcats (5-5, 2-2). Trailing by three following a three-point play from
Lauren Orndoff, Northern Arizona had two opportunities to draw within a point or tie the game before a pair of free throws by Montana State locked up the victory. Ahead of this season, the two programs were voted third and fourth in the Big Sky Conference Preseason Polls with the Lumberjacks landing just ahead of the Bobcats.
Both games will be available on Pluto TV Channel 1057, first at 7 p.m. on Thursday followed by a 12 p.m. tipoff on Saturday.
"I think the team had a pretty good perspective on the fact that we played two of the top teams and we just weren't at full strength," said NAU head coach
Loree Payne. "We definitely did not play the way we were capable of and it's tough when you lose a couple in a row, you start losing a little confidence. We really talked about team chemistry and togetherness, and really supporting each other. We really had that discussion in-between games, and I feel like they came out and played so much better. We made a few tweaks within our system and I thought it definitely showed on the court on Saturday."
Through the Big Sky's first 16 sets of conference games this season, just six have ended up in splits with both the Lumberjacks and Bobcats responsible for two apiece. Montana State split its two Big Sky Conference weekends after its first against Southern Utah canceled due to COVID-19 concerns in the Thunderbirds' program. The Bobcats have won their two Thursday games against Northern Colorado and Portland State before dropping both Saturday contests while looking for a sweep. The Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year in 2019-20, sophomore Darian White enters the game averaging 14.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.4 assists, all the top marks on the Bobcats through their 10 games this season. Named to the Big Sky's Preseason All-Conference Team, White averaged 16.3 points in her first three meetings with the Lumberjacks last season.
After scoring 15 points in each of the regular season meetings, White hit 19 points in the Big Sky tournament game. NAU held White to just 1-of-9 shooting from three-point range, but hit 14-of-26 against the Lumberjacks from inside the arc. Similarly, White finished 18-of-23 from the free-throw line against NAU last season, with a 9-of-10 game coming in Bozeman during the regular season.
"She's the leader of their team, they kind of go as she goes," Payne said. "I'm very excited to watch the matchup with Regan. They kind of went at it last year and competed really hard against each other. I think it's very evident how much Regan has improved. It's going to be a really competitive matchup and it's going to be fun to watch two leaders of their programs getting after it."
Falling 72-70 during its last time on the court, Montana State led by six points early on in the fourth quarter before Portland State drew even at 61 with just four minutes left on the clock. Clinging to a two-point lead with 1:20 left on the clock, the Vikings missed a jumper as they looked to pull ahead by two possessions. The Bobcats then missed a three-pointer as they looked to take the lead, with the Vikings connecting on five free throws across the next 54 seconds of game time to clinch the victory. Before falling by two to Portland State, each of Montana State's first three Big Sky games this season were decided by exactly eight points.
Meanwhile, NAU is coming off of a split weekend of its own after beating Montana 89-76 on Saturday following Thursday's 83-74 loss. While the team ultimately fell to the Lady Griz,
Emily Rodabaugh set a new program record for three-pointers made in a game without a miss as she hit 6-of-6 from outside on Thursday. Saturday's win also presented plenty of new career highs for the Lumberjacks as
JJ Nakai finished with 29 points, six assists and six three-pointers made in the win. Additionally, the aforementioned
Regan Schenck finished with a career-best eight assists, as did
Jacey Bailey with five of her own.
While Bailey did produce a 24-point game in Bozeman last year, very few of NAU's current starters played significant minutes against Montana State last season. While Nakai and
Miki'ala Maio were not even in the program, Rodabaugh played just 15 minutes in one appearance a year ago. For Schenck, she did not play in the Dec. 2019 meeting, but did combine for about 44 minutes off the bench in the other two games.
Montana State also looks drastically different from the last time NAU faced the Bobcats on March 11 of last year. With Fallyn Freije, the Big Sky MVP and First-Team all-conference member a year ago, and Oliana Squires, an All-Big Sky Second Team selection, both graduated from the program, it's White and senior Tori Martell leading the team on the court. The two are the only Bobcats to average at least 30.0 minutes per game this season.
"They graduated a huge class last year and obviously with our changes, with an opt out and some injuries, I think we are definitely a very different team," Payne said. "It'll be two great games hopefully and we are just excited to be able to play again."
Joining them in the starting five for all 10 games this season have been freshman Katelynn Limardo and sophomore Kola Bad Bear, who average 26.4 and 17.4 minutes respectively. A total of 11 Bobcats have played at least 11.0 minutes per contest this season, but just seven have played in all 10 games this season. Madison Jackson has started all three games she has played this season, but has not been on the court since Dec. 11. Freshman Taylor Janseen has started three games this season with junior Gabby Mocchi starting the past four for the Bobcats.
Martell has hit a Big Sky best 29 three-pointers this season, ranking 27th in the nation on a per game basis, while holding a 42.0 three-point percentage this year. Hitting six in the loss to Portland State on Saturday, Martell has hit at least one three-pointer in nine of 10 games this season, with an 8-of-11 performance against winless North Dakota coming in the season opener.
"She's a deadly three-point shooter," Payne said. "That's going to be a tough matchup for us, we have to make sure we are getting out and making her put it on the floor. She is a very good player and is known for being able to shoot the long ball."
