ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (March 16, 2023) – The Northern Arizona University women's basketball team put up a fight in the program's first-ever WNIT appearance. The Lumberjacks traveled to Albuquerque, N.M., to take on New Mexico, falling in the first round, 72-64.
The historic season for the Lumberjacks which saw them win the Big Sky Conference regular season championship and advance to the tournament title game, finish the season 21-14, just one win shy of tying the program's all-time single-season win total. The Lobos advance to next round and play either Washington or San Francisco, improving to 21-12.
Emily Rodabaugh led the team with 19 points and seven rebounds, while
Olivia Moran added 15 points.
Nyah Moran finished with nine points, five assists, and four steals.
The Lumberjacks opened the game on a 4-0 run, keeping the Lobos off the scoreboard until the 7:34 mark as the lead stretched to 6-2 in the early goings. From there, New Mexico settled in and went on a 7-0 run to lead 9-6 before the run was snapped by a
Nyah Moran layup to trim the lead down to a point.
After the Lobos pulled away 15-8, NAU strung together a 5-0 run to get back within a possession. However, that would be the final time the 'Jacks scored in the first quarter and UNM took a 20-13 lead into the second quarter. Five different Lumberjacks found the scoring column in the first 10 minutes, led by
Nyah Moran with five points. The Lumberjacks were held to 37.5 percent from the field in the first quarter while New Mexico shot 50 percent.
Northern Arizona continued to show fight in the second quarter, as consecutive layups from
Sophie Glancey made it a 26-24 game. The Lobos replied with a 5-0 run to stretch the lead out to 31-24 before an
Emily Rodabaugh three-pointer put NAU right back into the game. The Lumberjack defense was able to hold New Mexico scoreless for the final 2:02 of the half. After outscoring the Lobos 16-12 in the second quarter, Northern Arizona trailed 32-29 at the half.
Both teams came out firing and went basket-for-basket to start the second half. The Lobos made their first five shot attempts from the field while the Lumberjacks made six of their first seven. New Mexico pulled ahead by seven points, but four-straight from NAU by way of a Rodabaugh layup and an
Olivia Moran jumper quickly put the 'Jacks within a possession.
After New Mexico pulled back ahead by six points, five-straight points from
Olivia Moran made it a one-point contest. Glancey then headed to the free throw line and made both attempts, capping a 7-0 run that gave the Lumberjacks their first lead since the first quarter, 48-47. Despite shooting 56.3 percent from the field and making 9-of-16 from the field, the Lumberjacks trailed 55-50 heading into the fourth quarter.
It seemed to be all New Mexico in the fourth quarter, as the Lobos forced three NAU turnovers in the early goings and built a 61-52 lead. The Lobos continued to push the pace, going on a 13-3 run and led by as many as 15 points. Northern Arizona continued to fight, ending the game on a 6-0 run and kept UNM off of the scoreboard for the final 2:10 of the contest, forcing four turnovers. The comeback came up short as NAU was edged 17-14 in the final frame and would fall 72-64.
Northern Arizona was held to 27-66 from the field, shooting 41 percent while the Lobos made 30-of-62 to shoot 48 percent. Both teams made just four triples and shot less than 70 percent from the free throw line. The Lumberjacks forced 13 turnovers that they turned into 11 points, but were out-rebounded 43-to-33. In the paint, NAU scored 44 points while the Lobos scored 42.
