FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (Nov. 21, 2024) – Following a 17-point statement victory over Arizona at home on Wednesday night, the Northern Arizona women's basketball team is taking its momentum back out onto the road. The Lumberjacks travel to Colorado State on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 6 p.m. Mountain Standard time in Fort Collins, Colo., at Moby Arena.
Northern Arizona is 4-1 for the first time since 2018-19 and have won three-straight going into Saturday's matchup. A win would improve NAU to 5-1 for the first time since 2005-06.
The Lumberjacks are fresh off a 92-75 victory over in-state foe Arizona at the Rolle Activity Center on Wednesday night. NAU trailed 23-11 after the first and erased a 16-point deficit in the second quarter. The Lumberjacks exploded for 30 points in the second quarter, outscoring UA 30-to-15 to take a 41-38 lead into the half after closing the quarter on a 22-4 run. Northern Arizona never gave the lead back to the Wildcats, leading for 25:34 of the game.
Colorado State is also 4-1 on the season and is the third Mountain West opponent NAU has faced this year, all on the road, going 1-1.
Sophie Glancey's game-winner propelled Northern Arizona to an 80-78 victory in its opener at New Mexico, while the Lumberjacks also fell 85-71 at UNLV.
The Rams are coming off a 78-47 victory over Southern on Tuesday night at home, where they are 4-0 at this season. CSU allows just 50 points per game and ranks seventh nationally in field goal percentage defense at 30.9 percent. They also take great care of the basketball and lead the nation in turnovers per game at just 7.8.
Emma Ronsiek is a do-it-all player, leading the Rams in points (16.6), rebounds (6.0) and assists per game (3.6).
CSU's defense will have to face a Lumberjack offense that ranks 37
th nationally with 82.4 points per game, scoring at least 70 points in four games and 80 in three. Northern Arizona also is a threat behind the three-point line, making 9.2 triples per game. The Lumberjacks also rank 16
th in the country in assists with 20.2 per contest.
Nyah Moran leads the Big Sky Conference with 18.0 points per game and is the reigning Big Sky Player of the Week. She was instrumental in a win over Pacific where she scored 23 points for her first 20-point performance of the season, coming two away from tying her career-high. The Riverside, Calif., native scored 12 first half points and was a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line in the final 30 seconds of the contest to secure the victory.
She has scored in double figures in four-straight games and over 20 points in two consecutive games. Against Arizona, she led all players with 22 points. She ranks sixth in the Big Sky in field goal percentage (45.5%) and is third in three-pointers made (11).
Three other players average double figures, including the Preseason Big Sky MVP,
Sophie Glancey. Glancey averages 17.2 points per game to rank third in the Big Sky in scoring and is third in rebounds with 8.2. Glancey also ranks third in the league in field goal percentage, making 52.4 percent of her attempts.
Taylor Feldman averages 12.0 points per game and is followed by
Leia Beattie who adds 11.4 points per game. Beattie leads the team with 5.8 assists per game is shooting 51.2 percent from the field with 14 three-pointers already this year to lead the Big Sky Conference.
Saniyah Neverson adds 9.2 points per game and is coming off a double-double against Arizona. She scored 10 points and pulled down a career-high 15 rebounds, the most by a Lumberjack since the 2021 season. Neverson leads the team and ranks second in the conference with 8.6 rebounds per game.
Saturday will be the first meeting between the Rams and the Lumberjacks since the 2018 season. Colorado State leads the all-time series, 7-5, with the series tied 3-3 in Fort Collins. The Rams have won five-straight in the series.
It's off to Florida for Thanksgiving for the Lumberjacks next week. NAU takes part in the St. Pete Showcase on Nov. 28 against James Madison and Nov. 30 against Tulane in St. Petersburg, Fla.
