MISSOULA, Mont. (Feb. 8, 2024) – In the win column for the seventh-straight time, the Northern Arizona University women's basketball team picked up a 69-60 victory over Montana tonight at Dahlberg Arena in Missoula.
Lumberjack sophomore
Sophie Glancey scored a career-high 30 points, 16 of which came in the third quarter, on 14-of-21 from the field in the win.
Montana relied heavily on its play behind the arc, as eight of its nine field goals in the first half came from three-point range. However, the Lumberjacks defense held the Griz to just three triples in the second half and won the battle in the paint, 36-12.
Northern Arizona remains in first place, improving to 17-6 overall and 9-1 in Big Sky Conference play. It's the best start, and longest win streak, in conference action since the 1997-98 season as NAU also remains 5-0 in conference road games. The Lumberjacks also avoid the season sweep from Montana and have now beat every team in the conference, dropping the Griz to 15-7 (7-4).
It's the program's fifth-ever win in Missoula and first time the Lumberjacks have won consecutive games against the Griz on the road, snapping a two-game skid to Montana in the process.
Leia Beattie ended the night with her first career double-double in an NAU uniform, adding 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Emily Rodabaugh finished with 10 as well, while
Nyah Moran scored six points and dished a team-high five assists.
Northern Arizona won the rebounding battle, 46-to-36, and scored nine second chance points while the Griz scored none. The defense forced 14 turnovers and scored 10 points off the miscues. At the line, NAU was a perfect 9-for-9, also making 21-of-21 from the free throw line the last time the two squads faced.
"Tonight was a total team win. Our defense was the best it has been all season and
Nyah Moran was the leader of that with a tough assignment on Mack Konig," said head coach
Loree Payne, who won an NAU-leading 66
th Big Sky game in her home state tonight. "
Sophie Glancey obviously dominated and made some huge buckets. This is always a tough road trip, and I am just so proud of the team for locking in and executing the game plan."
Montana's three-point shooting was the difference early in the first quarter. By the first media timeout, both teams were 4-of-12 from the field, but the Griz had the 11-9 edge thanks to three early three-pointers. Out of the break,
Taylor Feldman made two free throw attempts to tie the game 11-11 before Montana went right back up with its fourth three-pointer of the night.
The Griz led 15-11 before the Lumberjacks flipped the script and
Nyah Moran hit consecutive three-pointers, giving NAU its first lead of the night and a 19-15 lead at the end of the first quarter, concluding on an 8-0 run. Northern Arizona also had a 15-9 edge in rebounding during the first.
Both teams got off to a slow start to begin the second quarter. Montana made a field goal at the 9:30 mark but were then held scoreless for over three minutes until retaking a 20-19 lead at the free throw line. Northern Arizona did not score until Glancey put the Lumberjacks back ahead 21-20 with 5:36 left to play. The Griz were not down for long, finding their groove behind the arc again with consecutive triples to go back up 26-21.
Down 28-24, a Beattie layup shook the rust off for Northern Arizona and
Allie Cummins fired off a three to put the Lumberjacks back ahead, 29-28. Rodabaugh joined in with a jumper to cap off a 7-0 run to extend the lead to 31-28. With six seconds left, the Griz made a three-pointer once again and the teams headed into the locker room tied 31-31.
Of Montana's nine made field goals in the first half, eight were from three-point range. The Lumberjacks made 12-of-37 from the field in the first half to outshoot the Griz but were 4-of-14 from three-point range.
Glancey exploded for 16 third quarter points as NAU shot 50 percent from the field and outscored the Griz 21-16 to take a 52-47 lead into the fourth. The squads were tied 42-42 at the media timeout before NAU fell behind 45-42. Glancey then went on an 8-0 run of her own to put the Lumberjacks ahead 50-45.
Olivia Moran hit a floater with five seconds left to help NAU end the frame on a 10-2 run, making its last four of five shots from the field.
Northern Arizona continued to hold its lead, as two free throws from Feldman gave it its largest of the night at 58-51 with 5:15 remaining. A 5-0 run out of the media timeout extended the league out to double digits, 65-54, and NAU would go on to secure the 69-60 victory.
The Lumberjacks go for their eighth-straight win and the season sweep of Montana State this Saturday, Feb. 10 at 2 p.m. Mountain Standard time in Bozeman. The Bobcats are coming off a 61-40 win over Northern Colorado tonight at home and have won five-straight.
