FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (Jan. 8, 2025) – Back at home for the first time since Dec. 14, the Northern Arizona women's basketball team returns home to Flagstaff this week. The Lumberjacks open the home portion of the Big Sky Conference slate on Thursday, Jan. 9 against Montana at 6 p.m. Mountain Standard time before hosting Montana State on Saturday, Jan. 11 against Montana State at 2 p.m. MST.
The Lumberjacks are 2-0 in Big Sky Conference play for the first time since 2020-21, which is also the last time NAU started conference play 3-0. It's the first games inside the J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome on Findlay Toyota Court this year, but NAU is undefeated at home so far, sitting a 4-0 and have won seven-straight dating back to last season. Overall, NAU sits at 11-4.
The Griz are 5-8 on the year with a 1-1 mark in Big Sky play. Over the weekend, Montana beat Eastern Washington 78-70 before falling to Idaho 63-50. It ranks fourth in the Big Sky with 66.8 points per game, while ranking eighth in points allowed with 69.6. The Griz lead the league in shooting percentage at .435 clip and hold defenses to .421. Both NAU and the Griz lead the league with 9.5 three-pointers per game in conference play, with NAU making 129 on the year and UM draining 105. The Griz are also third in blocked shots (3.46) and assists (14.54) per game. Mack Konig is the lone Griz in double figures, averaging 11.7 points per game.
Northern Arizona trails the all-time series with Montana, 63-19, but have won six out of the last 10 matchups including two straight. NAU and the Griz met three times last year. Each picked up a road victory before the Lumberjacks knocked off Montana 74-67 in the Big Sky Conference Semifinals last March in Boise, Idaho. In Flagstaff, Northern Arizona is 10-27 against the Griz and have lost two-straight. Seven of the last eight games between the two foes have been decided by nine points or less.
Sophie Glancey is the reigning Big Sky Player of the Week, an award she has won three times this season and six times in her career. She's coming off her ninth double-double of the season at Weber State where she scored 21 points and grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds, ranking sixth nationally in double-doubles. Glancey leads the 'Jacks and the conference with 17.6 points per game. She is second in rebounds (9.3) and also leads the Big Sky with 1.5 blocks per game while ranking second in field goal percentage (50.8%).
In fact, the Lumberjacks boast the top two scorers in the Big Sky as
Taylor Feldman is second with 15.8 points per game. She averages 1.5 triples per game and ranks seventh in the league in free throw percentage.
Leia Beattie is coming off a perfect day at Weber State where she was 6-for-6 from the field, 4-for-4 from three-point range and 1-for-1 from the charity stripe for a season-high 17 points. She led the team with five assists. Beattie ranks 17
th in the nation with 42 three-pointers made and is 19
th in three-point percentage (44.7) both of which lead the league. She averages 11.6 points per game and also leads the league is assist-to-turnover ratio (1.7) and is third with 4.3 assists per game.
Nyah Moran ranks third on the team with 12.8 points per game.
Olivia Moran is coming off a career-high 22 points at Weber State and adds 9.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.
Northern Arizona ranks 23
rd in the country with 81.5 points per game and are second in rebounds per game with 43.00. The Lumberjacks also lead the league in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.11) and assists per game (16.07).
Montana State leads the all-time series, 54-26. Northern Arizona has won four-straight over the Bobcats after earning the season sweep in two consecutive seasons. Prior to the winning streak, NAU had lost eight-straight to the Bobcats. In Flagstaff, NAU is 15-20 all-time against MSU and have won two-straight. Last year at home, NAU lead from start to finish and won 88-73.
The Bobcats sit at the top of the Big Sky standings with a 12-2 overall record. MSU plays at Northern Colorado before taking on the Lumberjacks, but have won five-straight heading into the matchup with a 2-0 record in Big Sky play as well. The Bobcats are 2-2 in true road games this year.
Marah Dykstra ranks third in the league with 14.5 points per game and is first in field goal percentage (.517). Esmeralda Morales ranks behind Beattie in three-point percentage (.337) and three-pointers per game (2.2) as MSU as a whole makes 7.6 per game. The Bobcats also ranks right behind NAU in points per game with 70.0, but allow the least amount at 54.9, outscoring opponents by 15.1 points per game. Taylee Chirrick leads the team with 2.6 steals per game followed by Ella Johnson who is second in blocks with 1.3 per game.
Northern Arizona heads back out on the road next week, taking on Sacramento State (Jan. 16) and Portland State (Jan. 18).
