LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Nov. 25, 2023) – In another down-to-the-wire game, the Northern Arizona University women's basketball team edged Youngstown State at the Orleans Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nev., by a score of 74-70 for its fourth-straight victory.
Northern Arizona led by as many as 19 points in the third quarter and the Penguins got as close to three points in the fourth. NAU shot 46.8 percent (29-62) from the field and held YSU to 41.8 percent (23-55), however, the Penguins were able make 10 three-pointers and were 14-for-21 from the free throw line compared to six three-pointers and 10-of-13 from the charity stripe for NAU. NAU also outscored the Penguins in the paint, 42-to-24 and scored 18 points off of 17 miscues.
The Lumberjacks improve to 4-2 on the year and finished the Las Vegas Holiday Classic 2-0 after a last-second 66-65 victory over Portland yesterday. The 4-2 start for NAU ties its best start since the 2020-21 season. After the loss, the Penguins drop to 2-4.
Sophie Glancey scored a career-high 26 points on 12-of-17 from the field while adding seven rebounds.
Emily Rodabaugh (14 points) and
Leia Beattie (13 points) also scored in double figures.
"I'm really proud of the team for putting together two quality wins this weekend. We showed big moments of toughness and
Sophie Glancey was phenomenal," said head coach
Loree Payne. "We're excited to carry this momentum into our home game this week."
Rodabaugh scored the first five points of the game to help NAU get off to a 5-0 start. By the first media timeout, the Lumberjacks led 10-5. Following the media timeout, Northern Arizona ended the quarter on an 8-4 run to lead 19-9 after one. The Lumberjacks were 7-of-15 from the field and held the Penguins to 28.6 percent (4-14) while forcing six early turnovers during the first 10 minutes.
Back-to-back triples from Rodabaugh and
Leia Beattie jumpstarted a 10-0 run that built a 29-11 advantage for NAU, forcing a Youngstown State timeout. Out of the break, the Penguins made a three-pointer to snap the run before Rodabaugh hit another three, giving her 12 first half points.
The Penguins refused to go away, finding a 6-0 run to trim their deficit down to 36-28. A
Grace Beasley layup and a Beattie triple at the buzzer put NAU back in control, ending the half on a 5-0 run for a 41-28 lead at the break.
Both teams relied heavily on their three-point shooting, with the Lumberjacks making 5-of-14 from three-point range compared to 4-for-15 for YSU. In the first half overall, NAU shot 50 percent (15-30) from the filed while holding the Penguins to 35.7 percent (10-28).
A pair of free throws by
Saniyah Neverson guided the Lumberjacks to an 8-2 run to start the third quarter, building their largest lead of 19 points, 49-30. In response, the Penguins strung together a 10-2 run to cut the lead down to 51-40. Glancey, who had nine third quarter points, converted an old-fashioned three-point play to hold the Penguins off and pull back ahead 54-40.
Continuing to hang around, YSU hit consecutive three-pointers to cut the lead back down to single digits with 1:31 left in the third, forcing a Lumberjack timeout. After three quarters of play, NAU led 56-48.
The Penguins got as close as three points to start the fourth quarter, 58-55. Northern Arizona stayed calm, going on a 7-0 run to extend the lead back out to 10 points. NAU entered foul trouble, and by the media timeout the lead had dropped back down to five points. A quick 4-0 run by the Lumberjacks made it a 71-63 game as NAU fought to put the Penguins out of reach.
With 33 seconds left, YSU hit a three-pointer to make it a 73-70 game as NAU called timeout to try and stop a 6-0 Penguin run.
Olivia Moran would make 1-of-2 free throw attempts with 10 seconds left, and YSU never got a shot attempt off as the Lumberjacks held on to the 74-70 victory.
Northern Arizona returns home to host UNLV on Wednesday, Nov. 29 at 6 p.m. MST at the Rolle Activity Center in Flagstaff for Native American Heritage night.
