OGDEN, Utah (February 27, 2023) - The Lumberjacks clinched Big Sky regular season co-champions with Montana State and Sacramento State with a 66-57 victory at Weber State. The regular season title comes to Flagstaff for the first time since the 1997-98 season for NAU Women's Basketball.
With a Montana State loss and Sacramento State victory, the Jacks, Bobcats, and Hornets will all share the regular season championship. NAU earns the No. 1 seed to the conference tournament, as the Lumberjacks have the head-to-head with MSU and Sacramento, sweeping both teams in regular season play.
The Jacks and the Wildcats kept the game tight through the first half, as Weber State held the scoring edge through the first seven minutes of action. Nyah Moran took a quick pass from Montana Oltrogge, with four minutes left in the first quarter, draining the three shot. Moran's three was quickly followed by Taylor Feldman's layup to give NAU it's first lead of the night (15-14). In a slow second quarter for each team, the Jacks picked up the lead before halftime with a layup from Oltrogge, adding the free throw to go up by one.
Fatoumata Jaiteh made her mark in the third quarter, leading the Jacks through a 5-0 run following Regan Schenck's three pointer. Jaiteh picked up a defensive board, and drew the foul for the Jacks, adding two free throws for the four-point lead. With ten minutes left to play, NAU and Weber State remained tied up after Wildcat Jadyn Matthews posted two clean free throws at the line.
Olivia Moran started the fourth with a three-point play, putting up a layup in traffic and capitalizing with the free throw. Emily Rodabaugh got in on the action with a three-pointer to extend the Jacks lead and seemingly put a stop to WSU's defense. Holding WSU to just 11 points in the fourth quarter, the Jacks put up 20 to end the game with a game-high nine point lead. With tonight's victory, NAU extended its winning streak against Weber State to 11 straight games, dating back to Feb. 9, 2019.
Schenck led NAU offensively with 20 points, going 8-15 from the field and picking up three rebounds. Olivia Moran followed with 11, shooting 50.0 percent from the field with two rebounds, three assists, and one steal. Rodabaugh posted her season-high of 10 rebounds, adding seven points and one steal.
The Jacks will open up the Big Sky tournament on Sunday, March 5 at 12 p.m. MST against the winner of game one. Game one will be played by the No. 9 Northern Colorado and No. 10 Weber State seeds on Saturday at 12 p.m.
To stay up to date with NAU Women's Basketball throughout the Big Sky Championships in Boise, follow the Jacks on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
