FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (Feb. 15, 2024) – The Northern Arizona University women's basketball team fell to visiting Sacramento State tonight at Findlay Toyota Court in Flagstaff, 82-66. The Lumberjacks had a cold night from the floor, shooting 33.9 percent (21-62) while the Hornets shot 49.2 percent (32-65).
NAU trailed 52-30 at the half and outscored the Hornets 36-30 in the second but couldn't make up any ground. The Lumberjacks were out-rebounded 51-to-37 and outscored in the paint, 42-20. Northern Arizona made 10 triples but struggled at the free throw line making 14-of-30 (46.7%), after entering the game ranked fifth nationally in free throw percentage.
The loss snaps an eight-game winning streak for the Lumberjacks who fall to 18-7 and 10-2 in Big Sky Conference play. The teams will split the regular season meetings, with the Hornets improving to 5-19 and 4-9.
Leia Beattie was the lone Lumberjack in double figures, scoring 18 points with a career-high six three-pointers. She'll enter Saturday's game just two points away from 1,000 in her career between Montana State and Northern Arizona. Both
Olivia Moran and
Taylor Feldman dished four assists each, with
Olivia Moran also adding seven rebounds and three steals.
Sophie Glancey finished with nine points and six rebounds, and
Nyah Moran had nine points as well.
"We're obviously not happy with the outcome of the game. We had a lot of dynamics that went into this week. Give Sacramento State the credit, they played really, really well. When you look at their overall record and all the games they've played, they've played in some close games and have some really good players, they're a much better team than their record," said head coach
Loree Payne. "We did not put forth the effort throughout the entire game to come back and get the win, but all credit to Sacramento State and it's a lesson and a learning opportunity for us to bounce back and re-focus."
Beattie fired off two triples in the early goings to help NAU lead 9-7 by the media timeout. Out of the break, an 8-2 run by the Hornets gave them a 17-13 advantage. The Lumberjacks did not make a field goal for the final 3:32 of the quarter, while the Hornets made their last 4-of-5 to lead 26-20 after the first. NAU was held to 35 percent in the first compared to 52.6 percent for Sacramento State who also made four three-pointers during the frame.
The Hornets kept it going the second quarter, opening on a 7-0 run to pull ahead 33-20. The Lumberjacks made their first field goal since the 3:32 mark of the first quarter at the 6:49 point of the second after a
Sophie Glancey layup to stop the run and try and make up ground. Sacramento State was hot, making 4-of-4 from the field to lead 43-28 by the media timeout. At the half, Northern Arizona trailed 52-30.
Sacramento State could not miss in the first half, making 21-of-35 to shoot 60 percent from the field and 7-of-11 (63.6%) from three-point range. Northern Arizona was just 10-of-30 (33.3%) from the field and were out-rebounded 24-to-18 and outscored in the paint, 24-to-12.
Northern Arizona came out of the second half on a mission, opening on a 7-0 run thanks to three points from Beattie and four from
Nyah Moran. The defense also cracked down, forcing five turnovers in the first five minutes of the quarter. The run opened to 14-4, as NAU cut the lead down to 56-44 with four minutes to go. The Hornets found their groove once again, using a 6-0 to go back up, 67-47, heading into the fourth.
A 7-0 run in less than a minute helped NAU cut the lead to 74-63 with just under five minutes to play. The Hornets then returned the favor with a 6-0 run of their own. Despite outscoring the Hornets 19-15 in the final quarter, the hole was too big to dig out of and the Lumberjacks fell 82-66.
NAU will look to bounce back on Saturday, Feb. 17 at 2 p.m. Mountain Standard time against Portland State at Findlay Toyota Court.
