ST. GEORGE, Utah (November 8, 2025) – In a competitive contest with six ties and six lead changes, Utah Tech closed the game on a 22-9 run to take a 78-73 win over Northern Arizona women's basketball in non-conference action on Saturday afternoon inside Burns Arena.
For the second straight game,
Naomi White led all scorers with 28 points on 12-of-23 shooting for NAU (0-2), while
Audrey Taylor and
Simone Morris pitched in 16 and 12 points, respectively. White and Taylor also recorded seven rebounds and three steals each. The Lumberjacks won the rebounding battle 46-36, including doubling-up Utah Tech on offensive boards, 12-6. Turnovers were close, with NAU holding a slim 22-19 edge, but Utah Tech (1-0) scored 21 points off turnovers to NAU's 12.
Both sides struggled to get into a rhythm to start, as a combined 15 turnovers were committed in the opening quarter. UTU was able to capitalize on NAU's miscues early, as it jumped out to a 9-2 lead in three minutes of action. The 'Jacks would keep even with the Trailblazers for the remainder of the period as they forced five steals to trail 23-17 after one.
NAU continued to up the intensity into the second stanza, holding Utah Tech to just 20% shooting from the floor in the period. The Trailblazers scored the first basket, but NAU responded with an 11-3 run to tie things up at 28 with 2:46 off a Morris layup for two of the Lumberjacks' seven second-chance points in the quarter. The Trailblazers then took a slim 31-30 lead into halftime.
The Lumberjacks then capitalized on 50% shooting from the floor in the third, taking a four-point lead into the final quarter at 51-47 after White closed the period with a triple.
In the fourth, NAU built its largest lead of the season at 64-56 with 4:41 to play, but the Trailblazers stayed within striking distance. With just over a minute left in regulation, a three-pointer by UTU combined with a foul on the play resulted in a four-point swing to tie the game at 69. The Trailblazers then took advantage of a turnover and converted an and-one with 39 seconds to play to take a 72-69 lead for good.
NAU will be back in action when it welcomes Embry-Riddle to Flagstaff on Nov. 11 for the home opener. Tipoff is slated for 6 p.m. Mountain Standard time inside the Rolle Activity Center and will be streamed on ESPN+.
