FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (Feb. 1, 2025) – After a week break from competition, the Northern Arizona women's basketball team picked up where it left off and won its fifth-straight game today, beating Northern Colorado 68-52 at Findlay Toyota Court in Flagstaff.
The Lumberjacks win their eighth-straight over UNC and third-straight in Flagstaff, improving to 17-5 on the season and 8-1 in Big Sky Conference play. NAU is also 8-1 at home this year. Northern Colorado drops to 9-11 (2-7).
It was just a three-point game at the half in NAU's favor (34-31) after the first half saw three lead changes and five ties. Northern Colorado shot 52 percent (13-25) in the first half, but the Lumberjack defense locked down and held the Bears to 25 percent in the second half on just 7-of-28 from the field and 21 points. It's the third time this season NAU has held a conference opponent to under 55 points.
Sophie Glancey led all players with 22 points, her ninth 20-plus point performance of the season and second-straight. Glancey also moved up to seventh on NAU's all-time scoring list and grabbed her 600
th career rebound in the win. She made 9-of-14 from the field and added five rebounds.
Taylor Feldman was the other Lumberjack in double figures, adding 11 on 4-of-10 from the field plus a game-high six assists and two steals.
Ava Schmidt was instrumental in the third quarter, scoring a career-high nine points on 4-of-8 from the field to go with two assists.
Olivia Moran added seven rebounds and
Leia Beattie added four assists.
"I'm really proud of the team. Obviously, the second half was stronger than the first. I think a little bit of that was having a week since we've played. Sometimes, when you get out of your routine it takes you a little bit of time to get into a flow. That's what it felt like in the first half, a little bit out of sync. But then I felt like we were able to put things together in the second half and play within our season and do some really good things," said head coach
Loree Payne.
The first quarter was evenly matched after both sides settled in following a week off for both teams, ending the quarter in a 14-14 tie with NAU shooting 38.5 percent from the field compared to 35.7 percent for UNC.
The Bears couldn't miss in the second quarter, shooting 72.7 percent on 8-of-11 from the field while keeping NAU to 46.7 percent (7-15). There were three lead changes and two ties in the second quarter alone with no team able to separate themselves by more than five points. At the half, the Lumberjacks held on to a narrow 34-31 lead.
Northern Arizona came out a bit slow on offense, not making a field goal until the 7:17 mark. The bucket by Glancey would kick off a 6-0 run for the junior alone, allowing NAU to create some separation with a 42-34 lead. The third quarter was the Glancey and Schmidt show, as Glancey accounted for 10 points and Schmidt scored the other nine for her new career-high. At the end of the third, after shooting 53.3 percent from the field and limiting UNC to 30 percent, NAU lead 53-42.
There was no letup for Northern Arizona in the fourth quarter, using a 4-0 run to start the frame and not allowing UNC to score until the 6:51 mark. Northern Colorado made just three field goals in the fourth quarter, shooting 20 percent. UNC went 0-for-5 on its final field goal attempts, not make a field goal for the final 4:08 of the contest.
Northern Arizona was edged on the boards, 36-to-34, but shot 43.3 percent (26-60) from the field. The Lumberjacks forced 14 turnovers and only committed seven, tying a season low. At the free throw line, NAU was 10-for-12 and made six out of 25 three-point attempts. The Bears shot 37.7 percent from the field (20-53), 36.4 percent from three-point range (4-11) and 61.5 percent at the line (8-13).
Today's game kicked off four games for NAU in the next eight days. The Lumberjacks close a four-game home stand on Monday, Feb. 3 at 6 p.m. Mountain Standard time against Weber State at Findlay Toyota Court.
