FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (January 6, 2022) – Off to a 3-0 start in Big Sky play for the second consecutive season, the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks will put their perfect record on the line Saturday in Flagstaff before making a quick trip to California.
Facing off with the conference's only other undefeated team, the Lumberjacks (6-5, 3-0) are looking for their first ever 4-0 start in the Big Sky. Meanwhile, the Southern Utah Thunderbirds arrive in Flagstaff with their own 3-0 Big Sky record, as well as a three-game win streak following wins over Sacramento State, Dixie State and Life Pacific stretching back to early December.
Both Northern Arizona and Southern Utah enter Saturday with COVID-19 postponements knocking out games over the past week. The Lumberjacks came away with a victory in their lone game last week, with the Eastern Washington Eagles unable to play on Jan. 1. Southern Utah's 80-70 victory against Sacramento State was followed by postponements from Northern Colorado and Portland State, with both the Thunderbirds and Lumberjacks entering the weekend last playing on Dec. 30.
Similarly, Sacramento State's loss at home to Southern Utah will be its most recent game entering Monday's 8 p.m. tipoff against Northern Arizona. The Hornets were scheduled to take on Northern Colorado on Saturday, but were also postponed due to the Bears' pause in activities.
Both games, Saturday's 2 p.m. tip against Southern Utah and the 8 p.m. MST start at Sacramento State, will be available on ESPN+, as well as Hulu with the Disney Bundle. For fans in attendance, a raffle will be held at the end of each quarter featuring gift cards to CycleBar and Local Juicery in Flagstaff, as well as Hello Fresh, and a yoga mat and dumbbell set in honor of New Year's Resolution Night.
SOUTHERN UTAH
Voted to finish fourth by the media and sixth by the coaches, the Thunderbirds have a slightly different look to the team in 2022. With Liz Graves and her 17.0 points per game graduated, Southern Utah has been led by 6-foot-5 center Lizzy Williamson with the sophomore's minutes increasing since the opening few games of the season.
Averaging 12.2 points and 9.2 rebounds, Williamson is hitting 59.4 percent from the field to rank 17th in the NCAA. Senior Cherita Daugherty, one of the Big Sky's top newcomers a year ago, is second to Williamson in both points and rebounds with 11.3 and 6.1 per game.
Returners Daylani Ballena, Madelyn Eaton and Darri Dotson round out the team's top five scorers, all averaging between 9.8 and 9.0 points per game. Junior Natalia Otkhmezuri, a transfer from Casper College, also offers an effective option off the bench with 7.8 points while hitting 51.2 percent from the field and 42.3 percent from three-point range.
Eaton averaged 17.0 points against the Lumberjacks in the two meetings last season, hitting 5-of-8 from outside. While the Lumberjacks held Daugherty to just three points in the 67-56 victory in Flagstaff, the guard scored 22 points on 9-of-11 shooting with six assists.
SACRAMENTO STATE
While Southern Utah's core remains the same, albeit with a new focal point in the paint, Sacramento State is just 12 games into head coach Mark Campbell's tenure.
Hired in April, Campbell brought in five additions to the roster with three making an immediate impact.
Guard Lianna Tillman, a graduate transfer from Pacific, leads the Hornets with 18.1 points and 5.5 assists per game. Sophomore Isnelle Natabou, a 6-foot-5 center from Iowa Western, is second on the team at 13.8 points per game and first with 9.6 rebounds. Similar to Williamson at Southern Utah, Natabou is hitting 58.3 percent from the field to rank 21st in the nation.
Freshman Katie Peneueta rounds out the top newcomers, with 10.3 points per game while shooting 44.0 percent from outside. Peneueta has played in just four games this season, but started in three of the past four.
Senior Summer Menke leads the Hornets core group of returners with 13.4 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. Sophomore Jessica Rios and senior Jazzy Carrasco have played in all 12 games this season with 21 starts combined while averaging 6.3 and 5.8 points respectively.
Menke averaged 12.0 points and 6.0 rebounds against Northern Arizona last season, the best among the returning Hornets.
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