FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (Jan. 11, 2024) – The Northern Arizona University women's basketball team returned to Big Sky Conference play this evening, overpowering Montana State 88-73 at Findlay Toyota Court in Flagstaff.
The Lumberjacks improve to 2-0 in Big Sky play with a 10-5 mark overall while the Bobcats drop to 8-8 overall and 2-1 in conference action. Northern Arizona has now won three-straight over Montana State including two in a row at home.
Emily Rodabaugh led the Lumberjacks with 23 points, draining a career-high 7-of-10 from three-point range which is the second-most in single game history. In tonight's game, Rodabaugh also climbed to seventh on NAU's all-time scoring list and cracked the all-time top ten list in minutes played.
Grace Beasley and
Leia Beattie, a pair of Montana State transfers, combined for 23 points. Beattie scored 12 on 4-of-9 from the field with five assists while Beasley added 11 points, five rebounds and six assists.
Olivia Moran rounded out the double-digit scoring with 11 points off the bench while
Sophie Glancey nearly earned a double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds.
The Lumberjacks shot 52.2 percent (12-23) from three-point range and 48.3 percent from the field overall while making 20-of-23 from the charity stripe. NAU out-rebounded the Bobcats 37-to-31 and limited MSU to 43.1 percent from the field.
"Obviously, that was a big win for us. We knew that this weekend was going to be a tough weekend, and I'm proud of our players for coming in and doing what they did today against a really good team," said head coach
Loree Payne. "Montana State was a little shorthanded, they were missing a couple of players, and we recognize that. They are a well-coached team who always plays really well, so for us to come in and play solid for 40 minutes was something that was important moving forward."
Northern Arizona came out fast on a 7-0 run and never looked back, leading from start to finish. The fast start forced Montana State to call a timeout at the 7:04 mark of the first quarter after missing its first six shots from the field. Out of the break, Beattie drained a triple to put the 'Jacks up 10-0. The defense held the Bobcats without a field goal until the 6:18 mark as NAU opened a 14-2 lead by the 4:33 mark. After shooting 47 percent (7-15) from the field and holding MSU to 36 percent (5-14) in the first quarter, the Lumberjacks led 22-13.
Rodabaugh hit back-to-back three-pointers, then a layup, for an 8-0 run to start the second quarter to stretch the lead out to 32-15 and force another early MSU timeout. Down the stretch, Montana State hit three-straight field goals for a 6-0 run, trimming the lead down to 43-32. The Bobcats trimmed the lead down to 49-35 but Rodabaugh's fifth three-pointer at the buzzer put the Lumberjacks up 52-35 at the half. NAU shot 62.5 percent in the frame and 54.8 (17-31) overall during the half. MSU, despite being outscored 30-22 in the second quarter, also shot over 60 percent in the second period.
Rodabaugh's sixth triple in the third quarter gave NAU its largest lead of the game at that point, 64-44. After outscoring the Bobcats 22-17 in the third quarter and shooting 50 percent from the field, the Lumberjacks led 74-52 heading into the fourth.
Montana State outscored the Lumberjacks 21-14 in the fourth, using a 16-3 run and keeping NAU off the board for nearly four minutes. However, the comeback was short-lived as the Lumberjacks secured the 88-73 victory.
Northern Arizona stays in Flagstaff to host Montana on Saturday, Jan. 11 at 2 p.m. Mountain Standard time at Findlay Toyota Court. Fans who bring a pair of new, unused socks to the game to be donated to local Flagstaff shelters receive free admission.
