STOCKTON, Calif. (Nov. 17, 2024) – The Northern Arizona women's basketball team traveled to Stockton, Calif., for a matchup against Pacific this afternoon at the Alex G. Spanos Center. The Lumberjacks won their fifth-straight contest over a West Coast Conference opponent, topping the Tigers 68-63.
NAU improves to 3-1 for the first time since the 2020-21 season and wins its third-straight over Pacific who falls to 2-2.
Sophie Glancey and
Nyah Moran were instrumental in today's win, leading the way with 24 and 23 points, respectively. It's the first 20-point performances of the year for the two, with Glancey coming six points away from a career-high and
Nyah Moran coming two-points shy. Glancey scored 10 of her 24 points in the fourth quarter while
Nyah Moran had 12 first half points and was a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line in the final minute of the game to help the Lumberjacks secure the victory.
Glancey also contributed with a team-high seven rebounds and was 9-for-16 from the field, while
Nyah Moran added six rebounds, made three three-pointers and made 8-of-8 from the free throw line.
Leia Beattie dished eight assists and added four steals, while
Olivia Moran recorded four steals as well.
The early goings of the game were closely contested, with NAU leading 16-14 after the first 10 minutes. The Lumberjacks used a 10-0 run during the first half to lead 43-32 at the break. Pacific closed the third quarter on a 12-2 run to make it a three-point game entering the fourth. The Tigers cut it to three points with 30 seconds remaining and then made it a one-point game with 19 seconds to go, 64-63.
Nyah Moran would head to the line and make all four free throw attempts to keep Pacific away, winning 68-63.
"I'm really proud of the team and their resilience today. Defensively down the stretch, we incredibly fundamental and locked in. Obviously, Sophie and Nyah put up big numbers and were really clutch down the stretch," said head coach
Loree Payne who needs six more victories to become NAU's all-time winningest coach. "Rebounding continues to be an improvement point moving forward. We are excited for another opportunity at home this week against Arizona."
The first quarter featured five lead changes and two ties as the teams settled in. The Lumberjacks came out and made their first 3-of-5 from the field thanks to
Nyah Moran who made her first two shot attempts and would end the first quarter with seven points.
By the midway point of the first, NAU led 8-5. After the media timeout, Pacific went on a 9-1 run to try and create some space with a 14-9 advantage.
Nyah Moran put a stop to the run with a three-pointer that would begin a 7-0 run for the Lumberjacks, with Glancey and Feldman also scoring. At the end of the first, Northern Arizona held a 16-14 lead.
The run continued into the second quarter and would end at 10-0 in all as NAU pulled ahead 20-14. The Tigers made a few quick stops and chipped away to make it a 25-22 game, but the Lumberjacks stayed composed.
Nyah Moran would then make a three-pointer that was followed by a triple from Beattie for another 6-0 run, taking a 31-22 lead into the media timeout.
The final three points of the quarter for NAU came from the free throw line, as the Lumberjacks were 9-of-14 from the charity stripe during the first half compared to 0-for-1 for Pacific. At the half, Northern Arizona led 34-to-28 after shooting 36.7 percent from the field compared to 35.3 percent for Pacific. The Tigers owned a 25-to-19 advantage on the boards in the first 20 minutes but turned the ball over 15 times.
Northern Arizona continued to make a living at the free throw line to start the third quarter. The first six NAU points came from the charity stripe, as the Lumberjacks made 6-of-6. The first field goal came from
Nyah Moran, her third three-pointer, that forced the Tigers to call for a timeout as the Lumberjacks pulled ahead 43-32.
Saniyah Neverson helped Northern Arizona pull away with its largest advantage of the day of 13 points, 48-35, after a three-pointer. After that, the Tigers quickly composed themselves and fired off an 8-0 run to the cut the lead backdown to 48-43, forcing an NAU timeout. Pacific closed the quarter on a 12-2 run and hit a step back jumper at the buzzer to make it just a three-point, 50-47, NAU advantage heading into the fourth quarter.
Glancey came alive in the fourth quarter, scoring 10 points, and
Allie Cummins made a three-pointer with 4:10 to go to give NAU a 61-53 lead. With less than a minute to play, UOP had a chance to make it a three-point game at the free throw line but missed both attempts. However, the Lumberjacks missed their next two attempts, and the Tigers immediately went down to the other end to cut the lead to 63-60 with 30 seconds remaining.
Feldman made it a two-possession game with a free throw, but with 19 seconds left, Pacific made it a one-point contest with a triple at the top of the key. Staying composed,
Nyah Moran made the most of her opportunity and made 4-of-4 at the free throw line down the stretch to help NAU win 68-63.
Northern Arizona forced 21 turnovers and scored 25 points off the miscues and 18 of its 20 field goals were assisted. Pacific won the rebounding battle, 46-to-38 and had the slight 34-to-28 edge in the pain. On the day, the Lumberjacks shot 37 percent from the field (20-54), 30 percent from three-point range (6-20), and 73.3 percent from the free throw line (22-30). The Tigers were just 3-of-7 from the free throw line which would be the difference as they shot 38 percent from the field (27-71) and made six three-pointers.
The Lumberjacks return home for a big test this Wednesday, Nov. 20 at the Rolle Activity Center when it hosts Arizona at 6 p.m. Mountain Standard time on ESPN+.
