FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (December 30, 2025) – The Northern Arizona women's basketball team begins the New Year with a pair of Big Sky Conference openers at home against Montana and Montana State. The Lumberjacks will tipoff on Findlay Toyota Court inside the Walkup Skydome against the Griz on New Years Day at 6 p.m. Mountain Standard time and the Bobcats on January 3rd at 2 p.m. MST. Both contests will be streamed on ESPN+.
NAU enters 2026 on a high note, as it closed 2025 on a three-game win streak to stand at 4-9 at the end of its non-conference schedule. The Lumberjacks also picked up their first road wins of the season in the last two away contest at CSUN, 77-56 on December 18 and 71-68 at UC San Diego on Dec. 20. The 'Jacks will look to win their fourth straight and second in a row at home against the Grizz, while also avenging last season's loss in the Big Sky Tournament Semifinals.
Naomi White leads the NAU attack with 22.6 points per game on 40.5% shooting. White was named Big Sky Player of the Week on Dec. 23 following a week in which she averaged 25 points on 41.3% shooting, seven boards, 2.3 assists, and three steals.
Madison Watts also hit her stride in December, reaching career-bests throughout the month highlighted by a 16-point, 13-rebound double-double against Park (Ariz.) on Dec. 15. The native of San Pedro, Calif. averaged 12 points on 57% shooting, 7.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and one steal in the month. She ranks tenth in the league in rebounds per game.
Montana brings a 3-9 record into this contest, wrapping up the non-conference slate of its schedule with a 90-85 overtime win at Tarleton State on Dec. 20. Preseason All-Conference selection Mack Konig leads the offense with 16.4 points per game, while Avery Waddington is pulling down 7.3 boards per game to rank fifth in the conference. The Griz rank last in scoring offense (64.1) and margin (-9.2) in the league. They are led by former Griz assistant Nate Harris, who is in his first year at the helm in Missoula.
Preseason favorite Montana State stands at 7-4, and will face Northern Colorado in Greeley on Jan. 1 before heading to Flagstaff. The Cats rank last in the league in defensive rebounds (21/game) but are third in offensive rebounds at 14.4 per contest. Montana State is also committing 10 fewer turnovers a game than its opponents to lead the conference. Taylee Cherrick is scoring 17.5 points per game to lead the offense, ranking third in the Big Sky, while Addison Harris ranks sixth in the league at 16 points a contest. Head Coach Tricia Binford is the longest-tenured and winningest in Bozeman, currently in her 21st season at the helm of the Bobcats.
