FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (February 3, 2022) – Working to climb back into the game after a rough opening quarter, the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks cut a 21-point deficit down to just five early in the third quarter against the Sacramento State Hornets.
However, the Hornets (10-10, 6-5 Big Sky) built their lead back up to 18 thanks to a 15-2 run capped off by a pair of three-pointers for Katie Peneueta. Battling back once again, the Lumberjacks (9-10, 6-5) cut it down to a seven-point game with a 16-5 stretch, but ultimately fell 76-62 Thursday night at the Walkup Skydome.
The loss, the fourth straight in Flagstaff for Northern Arizona, dropped the Lumberjacks into a tie for fifth with Sacramento State while splitting the season series.
Hitting just 12.5 percent from the field in the first quarter, Northern Arizona's offense corrected course in the second to hit 50 percent from the field. Cutting Sacramento State's 23-4 advantage down to just eight thanks to a 10-0 run spanning a two-minute stretch midway through the second, the Lumberjacks forced the Hornets into eight turnovers in the quarter.
With its pressure picking up, the Lumberjacks attacked inside as they missed their first eight three-pointers until
Emily Rodabaugh connected from outside in the fourth quarter. Rodabaugh, who led the Lumberjacks with 24 points on 11-of-17 shooting, put up all of them in the second half after playing just four first-half minutes due to a pair of fouls.
Hitting 6-of-8 in the fourth, Rodabaugh put up 14 points in the game's final 10 minutes, the highest single-quarter total for a Lumberjack since she herself put up 16 against UNLV in November 2020.
Scoring the team's first seven of the fourth, after scoring 10 of Northern Arizona's 14 in the third, Rodabaugh cut the score to 55-45 with 8:05 left on the clock. A three-point play for
Lauren Orndoff off a drive to the basket brought the Lumberjacks within seven, and
Regan Schenck's first three-pointer of the night brought the score to 59-53 with 4:43 left.
Unfortunately, Sacramento State guard Lianna Tillman put up five quick points while assisting Summer Menke on two more as the Hornets effectively put the game back out of reach with less than two minutes remaining.
Tillman tied Peneueta for a team high 20 points, followed by Isnelle Natabou's 16 points. Natabou, who put up six points and seven rebounds during the Hornets' opening run, finished with a game-high 17 rebounds. Sacramento State dominated on the boards, outrebounding Northern Arizona 38-22 with Menke adding 10 of her own.
With the Hornets averaging just 13 turnovers per game entering Thursday, the Lumberjacks' pressure created opportunities for a comeback. Scoring 20 points off of 17 turnovers, Northern Arizona's downfall ultimately fell on a slightly below average shooting night at 40.3 percent compared to Sacramento State's 60.4 percent. It was the best shooting night of the season for the Hornets, highlighted by Peneueta hitting 6-of-8 from outside and Natabou finishing 7-of-8 from the field.
Miki'ala Maio was the only other Lumberjack to reach double-digits, with 10 points in 20 minutes.
Northern Arizona heads back out on the road for one game, tipping off at 2 p.m. in Greeley, Colo. against the Northern Colorado Bears. Coming off their 61-49 victory Monday night in Flagstaff, the Bears defeated the Portland State Vikings 59-51 Thursday night in Portland.
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