LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Nov. 24, 2023) – Trailing by as many as 15 points in the second half, the Northern Arizona University women's basketball team came from behind to beat Portland, 66-65, in the first game of the Las Vegas Holiday Classic thanks to a game-winning layup by
Olivia Moran with a second left in regulation.
The win is the third-straight victory for Northern Arizona who improves to 3-2 on the young season. Portland, who finished 23-9 last year and advanced to the NCAA tournament, drops to 3-3.
"I'm so proud of the team and the resiliency we displayed today. To be down 12 at the half and to come back to earn the victory over a very good Portland squad shows our continued growth as a team," said head coach
Loree Payne. "Our commitment to rebound on both ends of the court was definitely the difference in the outcome."
Northern Arizona crashed the glass in the victory, out-rebounding UP 40-to-26. NAU shot 44.1 percent from the field and scored 19 points off 19 turnovers, holding Portland to 42.3 percent overall.
The Lumberjacks got off to a slow start, shooting 21.4 percent from the field in the first quarter to allow Portland to lead 15-8 at the end of the first frame.
Northern Arizona started to settle in, making 8-of-10 attempts from the field in the second quarter, but the Pilots shot 58.3 percent themselves with three triples to lead 42-30 at the half.
Making up ground in the third quarter, NAU slowly started to chip away with an 8-0 run that including six points from
Emily Rodabaugh to trim the lead down to 48-42. Despite outscoring the Pilots 16-12 in the third, the Lumberjacks trailed 54-46 heading into the fourth.
Falling behind by eight points in the early goings of the fourth, the Lumberjacks exploded on a 7-0 run and a layup by
Grace Beasley made it a 56-55 game in favor of the Pilots with under 6:30 to play. The Pilots would pull back ahead by two points before
Nyah Moran made it a 57-57 contest with a jumper.
Every time the Pilots retook the lead, Northern Arizona had an answer. With just over two minutes to play, a Beattie triple gave NAU a 62-61 lead – its first since the first quarter. A layup by
Sophie Glancey put Northern Arizona back ahead by a point after UP retook the lead with a minute to play.
With 55 seconds on the clock, Portland took a 65-64 lead after a perfect trip to the free throw line. After a couple of missed opportunities by both teams, Northern Arizona called timeout with a second left on the clock. Out of the break, Beattie found
Olivia Moran for the game-winner and the Lumberjacks completed to 66-65 come-from-behind victory over Portland.
Taylor Feldman and Glancey led the Lumberjacks with 11 points each, with Feldman making 5-of-6 from the field and Glancey also grabbing six boards.
Nyah Moran was the other player in double figures, finishing with 10 points.
Olivia Moran added nine points and
Leia Beattie stuffed the stat sheet with seven points, 13 rebounds, seven assists, four steals and a block.
The Las Vegas Holiday Classic concludes tomorrow (Nov. 24) at 3:30 p.m. Mountain Standard time when the 'Jacks take on Youngstown State.
