FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (January 12, 2023) – Erasing an early deficit to take a one-point lead at halftime, the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks appeared to bounce back from a slow start Thursday night at Findlay Toyota Court.
However, a 16-point advantage in the third quarter pushed the Portland State Vikings (7-7, 2-2 Big Sky) to a 78-66 victory against the Lumberjacks (9-9, 3-2 Big Sky) to end Northern Arizona's three-game win streak and earn their first back-to-back conference wins since
Trailing by as much as nine in the opening quarter, the Lumberjacks quickly erased the Vikings's lead.
Sophie Glancey hit a layup as the final points of the first quarter with a free throw by
Olivia Moran, a three from
Emily Rodabaugh and layup by
Taylor Feldman putting Northern Arizona in front for the first time at 15-14. A quick 6-0 run from the Vikings left the Lumberjacks playing catchup again, first tying the score three times at 22-22, 24-24 and 26-26 before a jumper from
Montana Oltrogge and a layup by Glancey ended the first half with Northern Arizona in front 30-29.
A three-pointer by
Regan Schenck early in the third quarter made it 33-31 in favor of the Lumberjacks, but it would be the final lead of the game. Two runs of seven and another by six propelled Portland State to a 16-point lead, with Esmeralda Morales scoring 12 of her game-high 28 points in the quarter,
Back-to-back threes from Oltrogge opened the fourth, bringing the Lumberjacks within nine points with 9:17 remaining, but out of a timeout the Vikings put up another 7-0 run to essentially clinch the victory.
A three-pointer by
Olivia Moran brought Northern Arizona back within nine, but just 55 seconds remained on the clock.
Oltrogge led the Lumberjacks with her seventh double-double of the season, scoring 23 points and adding 11 rebounds, while Moran finished with 12 points and
Fatoumata Jaiteh added 10.
Hitting just 41 percent from the field, including a 25-percent first quarter, Northern Arizona was outshot by Portland State's 52 percent. The 17 Lumberjack turnovers led to 21 points by the Vikings, while Northern Arizona only put in five points off 12 turnovers.
Northern Arizona will look to bounce back on Saturday against Sacramento State with the game's stream available
here and live stats
here. The Hornets defeated the Northern Colorado Bears 73-41 to improve to 4-0 in Big Sky play.
Make sure to follow the NAU women's basketball team on
Twitter,
Instagram and
Facebook for updates throughout the season.
