BOISE, Idaho – For the third-straight season, the Northern Arizona University women's basketball team is semifinal bound. The No. 2 seeded Lumberjacks defeated No. 8 Sacramento State by a score of 81-63 in the quarterfinals in Boise, Idaho at Idaho Central Arena.
Northern Arizona adds another victory on to its single season win record, moving to 24-8 on the season, while the Hornets finish the season 6-24. The squads split the regular season meetings, each picking up a win on each other's home floors. The result also avenged NAU's loss to Sacramento State in last year's championship game.
Boise native
Sophie Glancey had a career-day with her fifth double-double of the season, tying her career-high with 30 points and adding 11 rebounds. She made 12-of-19 from the field, 1-of-1 from three-point range, and 5-of-7 from the charity stripe.
After NAU trailed 28-27 at the half, Glancey scored 16 of her 30 points in the third quarter. The Lumberjacks didn't make a field goal for the final 4:30 of the first half but outscored the Hornets 51-34 in the second half while shooting 60 percent from the field.
The Lumberjacks won the rebounding battle 45-to-31 and shot 46 percent from the field, including 8-of-20 from three-point range and 15-for-18 from the free throw line. The Hornets shot 38.5 percent and were 3-of-13 from three-point range and just 10-for-21 at the free throw line.
Leia Beattie added 15 points on 5-of-7 from three-point range, while
Olivia Moran finished with 13 points and seven rebounds off the bench.
Taylor Feldman was the final 'Jack in double figures, ending with 10 points and three assists.
Saniyah Neverson finished with seven points and four rebounds in just eight minutes of action.
"I'm super proud of our team, especially with our second half performance. The first game in Boise is always one you need to settle in and get your feet under you. We were able to do that and I'm proud of how we responded in the second half both offensively and defensively," said head coach
Loree Payne.
Northern Arizona wasted no time getting off to a fast start, as
Leia Beattie fired off two three pointers to help the Lumberjacks lead 8-2 in the early goings. Sacramento State used a 5-0 run to cut the lead to a point, and the Hornets got as close as a point once again, trimming down a 13-12 advantage.
Taylor Feldman, who was 3-for-4 from the field during the first quarter, went on a 4-0 run to extend the lead out to 17-12. At the end of the first, Northern Arizona was holding a 19-17 lead.
The second quarter saw three ties before the Hornets took their first lead of the game. The lead was immediately put back in NAU's hands after Beattie's third triple of the day, 26-25. Both teams entered scoreless spells for over three minutes while the Lumberjacks held on to the 28-27 lead. With 25 seconds left, the Hornets retook the lead, and after not scoring for the final 4:30 of the half and missing its last seven shots from the field, the Lumberjacks trailed 29-28.
At the half, Northern Arizona was 11-of-33 from the field compared to 12-of-35 for the Hornets. NAU had the rebounding edge, 24-20, with six offensive boards, but committed four turnovers compared to just one for Sacramento State.
An old fashioned three-point play by
Nyah Moran tied the contest back at 31-31 within the first minute of the third quarter. At the third quarter media timeout, both sides were knotted a 39-39.
Enter, Glancey. The sophomore fired off 18 points and grabbed five rebounds in the third quarter alone. She went on an 8-0 run late in the frame to give NAU its largest lead of 47-40. The run would amount to 12-1 overall, with Glancey owning 10 of those points as NAU made 4-of-4 from the field during the spurt. After outscoring the Hornets 26-17 in the third quarter, the Lumberjacks took a 54-46 lead into the fourth.
The Lumberjacks refused to let up in the fourth quarter, opening on an 8-0 run thanks to five early points from
Olivia Moran. NAU shot 61.5 percent from the field in the fourth, using another 10-0 run to outscore the Hornets 27-17 in the frame en route to the 81-63 win.
Northern Arizona has a day off before taking on the winner of No. 3 Montana and No. 6 Idaho on Tuesday, March 12 at 1:30 p.m. Mountain Standard time.
