FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (Nov. 11, 2024) – Back in the friendly confines of the Rolle Activity Center, the Northern Arizona women's basketball team played host to Fort Lewis College where it cruised to a 101-68 victory in its home opener.
The game was an exhibition game for the Skyhawks, who compete at the Division II level in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and are 1-1 on the year.
Northern Arizona improves to 2-1 overall for the first time since 2020-21 and have won its seventh-straight home opener. Additionally, NAU improves to 51-5 since 2018-19 when scoring at least 80 points including a 32-2 record at home.
Six players scored in double figures, led by
Nyah Moran who dropped 18-points for the second-straight game on 7-of-13 from the field.
Audrey Taylor had a career-game, coming a point from her career-high with 17 points but led the team with eight assists and added seven rebounds, both of which are career highs. Taylor made 5-of-8 from the field with four three-pointers and led the team with two steals.
Olivia Moran and
Sophie Glancey each turned in double-doubles.
Olivia Moran earns the second of her career with 14 points and a career-high 13 rebounds. Glancey earns her second-straight and the ninth of her career with 10 points and 10 rebounds in 20 minutes played.
Saniyah Neverson rounded out the double-digit scoring with 12 points and nine rebounds on 5-of-7 from the field.
Northern Arizona shot 50.7 percent from the field (36-71) and after a slow first quarter where it made just 4-of-14 from the field, NAU shot over 50 percent in the remaining three quarters. NAU drained 12 three pointers and were 17-of-26 from the free throw line. The Lumberjacks won the rebounding battle 53-to-28 and dominated in the paint, 46-to-26.
"I'm super proud of our team. To get a big win in our home opener is something that's important for this program, we want to protect our home court. I felt like we saw a lot of great things from a lot of our team members collectively," said head coach
Loree Payne who is now just seven wins away from becoming NAU's all-time wins leader. "We put together a really solid 40 minutes."
After a shaky start that saw both teams shoot less than 30 percent from the field, NAU held a 15-7 lead heading into the second.
The Lumberjacks quickly found their way in the second quarter, using a 12-0 run to help create some space for a 38-18 lead.
Nyah Moran scored five points during the run, and it was capped by a three-pointer from
Ava Schmidt who scored eight points for a new career-high today. The run helped NAU make 11-of-19 in the second with six three-pointers to outscore the Skyhawks 34-19 in the second quarter to take a 49-26 lead into the half.
Northern Arizona outscored the Skyhawks 26-to-19 in the third quarter, once again making 11-of-19 with the field but this time most of their points were found inside with just two three-pointers made.
Fort Lewis wouldn't show any quit in the fourth quarter. The Skyhawks were consistent and shot 50 percent from the field, making 7-of-14. FLC also strung together an 8-0 run with four minutes to go, but the run was too late and NAU was able to lead by as many as 35 in the fourth quarter. The Lumberjacks closed the game by shooting 52.6 percent (10-19) from the field en route to the 101-68 victory.
On the day, the Skyhawks shot 36.9 percent (24-65) from the field and made 11 three pointers. At the free throw line, FLC made 9-of-15.
The stay at home is brief, as NAU heads back out on the road to face West Coast Conference foe Pacific in Stockton, Calif., on Sunday, Nov. 17. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. Mountain Standard time. The Lumberjacks went a perfect 4-0 against the WCC last season including a 96-65 victory over the Tigers.
