ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (Nov. 4, 2024) – The Northern Arizona women's basketball team opened its season at New Mexico today at The Pit in Albuquerque, N.M. It might have been the first game of the year, but it had dramatics like a game in March as the Lumberjacks walked away with an 80-78 victory after
Sophie Glancey's game-winner.
NAU trailed for 34:12 of the contest and were down 13 heading into the fourth quarter. The Lumberjacks used a 12-2 run in the fourth to make up ground and outscored the Lobos 31-19 during the frame while shooting 68.8 percent from the field. With 35 seconds left,
Nyah Moran put NAU up by two points before the game moved into a 77-77 tie with 15 seconds remaining. With :02 on the clock, New Mexico headed to the line and made 1-of-2 free throw attempts to make it a 78-78 game. Northern Arizona called a timeout, and
Leia Beattie's in-bound pass found Glancey who made the game-winning shot as time expired.
The comeback propels Northern Arizona to win at The Pit for the first time since 1994-95. It also avenges a first round WNIT loss to the Lobos in 2022 and snaps a nine-game winning streak over New Mexico for its first overall win since 1995-96. The victory also ends three-game season-opening losing streak, marking the first time NAU has started 1-0 since 2020-21.
"I'm so proud of the team and their resilience and trust in each other. To trail the majority of the game and still battle back to make numerous winning plays down the stretch is impressive," said head coach
Loree Payne who earned career victory No. 110 at NAU with the win. "Sophie hitting the game winner is not a surprise at all, it's great to see all of her hard work pay off."
Four Lumberjacks scored in double figures, led by Glancey who had 17 points on 7-of-15 from the field and a game-high eight rebounds and two blocks. Beattie was close behind her, draining 6-of-10 from the field and 4-of-8 from the three-point line with 16 points, seven assists and seven rebounds in 37 minutes of play.
Taylor Feldman scored 15 points and was key from the free throw line late in the game, making 6-of-8. She also added four rebounds and five assists.
Saniyah Neverson rounded out the scoring with 11 points on 4-of-7 from the field, adding five rebounds, two blocks, two assists and a steal.
Nyah Moran ended with nine points and three assists.
Both teams got off to a hot start, trading bucket-for-bucket. New Mexico used a 6-0 run to lead 7-3 in the early goings and a basket by Beattie would get the 'Jacks within two points. NAU had a balanced scoring attack with five different Lumberjacks finding the scoring column by the first media timeout despite trailing 15-11.
Although it trailed 22-19 at the end of the first and allowed the Lobos to shoot 56.3 percent from the field, NAU closed the period on a 5-2 run after drawing six fouls and forcing six turnovers in the first 10 minutes of play.
Neverson cut the lead to a point to start the second quarter, but a quick 6-0 Lobo run kept NAU from getting closer by pulling ahead 28-21. The Lumberjacks wouldn't back down, using a 7-0 run just as quickly to tie the game, 28-28, and force a Lobo timeout. The run included layups from Feldman and
Allie Cummins plus a three-pointer from
Olivia Moran. Out of the break, it was New Mexico with all the momentum, using a 14-3 run to take a 42-34 lead into the half.
Northern Arizona shot 35 percent in the first half compared to 55 percent for the Lobos and were out-rebounded 23 to 17.
An old-fashioned three-point play by Glancey got things started in the second half, but the 'Jacks then entered a scoreless spell for nearly four minutes and missed eight-straight shots from the field. By the media timeout, New Mexico had pulled back ahead by 10. The Lobos led by as many as 13 points in the fourth quarter and took a 59-49 lead into the fourth.
Northern Arizona did anything but accept defeat in the fourth. Beattie drained a triple and it would spark an 8-0 run to make it a three-point game. Feldman then went to the line and drained both free throw attempts, making it a 10-0 run that made it a 64-63 contest in favor of UNM. With 4:15 left to play, Feldman hit a three-pointer to tie the contest before another Beattie three gave NAU its first lead of the day with 3:37 left to play. Feldman would score 10 points in the fourth quarter, while Beattie and Glancey each added eight.
With :49 on the clock, New Mexico tied the game before
Nyah Moran went down and made a layup to put the lead back in NAU's hands 77-75. New Mexico tied the contest at the free throw line with 15 seconds remaining, 77-77, before Feldman made 1-of-2 at the line to give NAU another one-point advantage.
After the Lobos tied the game 78-78 at the free throw line with :02 remaining, NAU called for a timeout. Out of the break, Beattie found Glancey who made the contested shot to give NAU the 80-78 victory.
Northern Arizona shot 40.3 percent (29-72) on the day with 11 made three-pointers and an 11-for-18 performance at the free throw line. It forced 18 turnovers while only committing 14, and 20 of its 29 field goals were assisted.
New Mexico out-rebounded NAU, 48-to-36 and had a 42-to-34 advantage in the paint. The Lobos shot 44.6 percent (29-65) from the field, 8-of-19 from three-point range and 12-of-16 from the free throw line.
The Lumberjacks prepare to take on another Mountain West Conference opponent in UNLV on Thursday, Nov. 7 in Las Vegas, Nev. Tipoff is set for 12 p.m. Mountain Standard time.
