FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (Feb. 5, 2025) – The second half of Big Sky Conference play is underway, and the Northern Arizona women's basketball team will be heading to the Treasure State for a pair of games against Montana State and Montana.
Northern Arizona looks to avenge a Jan. 11 loss to the Bobcats on Thursday, Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. Mountain Standard time before going for a sweep over the Griz on Saturday, Feb. 8 at 2 p.m. MST in Missoula, Mont.
The Lumberjacks are halfway through a four-game stretch in eight days and just wrapped up a four-game home stand that saw them go a perfect 4-0, extending its winning streak to six games entering Thursday. NAU is 18-5 on the year and have tied its best start in conference play with a 9-1 record.
The only team NAU lost to during the first half of Big Sky play was Montana State in an 87-81 decision in Flagstaff. The Bobcats have won 13-straight games, sitting at 20-2 on the season and a perfect 10-0 in conference play. MSU has also not lost at home yet this year, sitting at 9-0.
The Bobcats boast the league's best defense with 55.2 points allowed per game, while NAU has the league's best offense with 80.4 points per game. The Bobcats also score 71.9 points per game, while the Lumberjacks allow 72.4. MSU ranks fourth in the country with 14.0 steals per game and 10
th in turnovers forced with 23.73. Taylee Chirrick ranks seventh in the country with 71 steals on the season.
MSU is led by Esmeralda Morales who ranks third in the league behind NAU's
Sophie Glancey and
Taylor Feldman in scoring with 14.7 points per game. Morales is also second in the league behind current Lumberjack and former Bobcat
Leia Beattie in three-point percentage, shooting 35.3 percent. She's made 48 three-pointers this year while Beattie has drained 50.
Montana State and Northern Arizona have developed a bit of history over the past few seasons. After NAU lost to Montana State in the 2022 Big Sky title game, the Lumberjacks won four-straight and swept the Bobcats in consecutive seasons. On Jan. 11, MSU snapped the win streak with a victory in Flagstaff. The Bobcats lead the all-time series, 55-26, including a 28-9 mark in Bozeman. NAU has won the last two meetings on the road.
In the Jan. 11 matchup, NAU led 22-11 after the first quarter, but MSU used a 13-0 run in less than three minutes to take the lead entering the second and never look back.
Sophie Glancey turned in a double-double of 21 points and 13 rebounds in the win, while
Taylor Feldman added 20 and
Nyah Moran scored 19.
Northern Arizona and Montana have split the regular season meetings for four-straight seasons, something NAU would like to avoid on Saturday as it has won three-straight over Montana. Overall, Montana leads the all-time series 63-20 with a 34-5 record in Missoula. NAU has won two-straight on the road.
Northern Arizona beat the Griz 65-46 on Jan. 9 in Flagstaff, leading from start to finish. It's the least amount of points NAU has allowed to an opponent this year, holding the Griz to 28.8 percent from the floor. Feldman led the way with 24 points, while Glancey added 15.
Montana is 9-12 on the year and 5-5 in Big Sky Conference play. It enters its Thursday night contest against Northern Colorado on a two-game winning streak, sitting at 6-4 at home this year.
The Griz average 65.9 points per game and rank 22
nd in the nation with 8.7 triples per game, shooting at 34 percent clip from three-point range. Mack Konig is UM's leading scorer with 10.5 points per game, while Dani Bartsch pulls downs 6.8 rebounds per game.
Glancey is coming off her fifth Big Sky Player of the Week award this season, helping NAU claim nine out of the 13 weekly awards this year. She leads the league in points per game with 18.2 and ranks eighth in the country with 12 double-doubles. The junior has scored over 20 points in 10 games this season. She also leads the league in field goal percentage (51.6%) and blocks per game (1.7). On a national level, she ranks 18
th in field goals made (164), 29
th in points (419), 52
nd in points per game (18.2) and 33
rd in total rebounds (208).
Feldman is the second-leading scorer in the Big Sky with 17.1 points per game – scoring over 20 points in seven games this year, shooting at a 43.5 percent clip that ranks third in the league. The junior ranks third in assists with 3.7 and fourth in assist/turnover ratio (1.6).
Nyah Moran averages 11.5 points per game while Beattie adds 9.6. Beattie ranks 72
nd in the nation in three-pointers made with 50. As a team, the Lumberjacks rank 17
th in the nation with 42.04 rebounds per game, as
Saniyah Neverson ranks fifth in the league with 7.7 boards per game.
Additionally, NAU ranks 18
th in the country in scoring offense and 12
th in defensive rebounds per game (29.7). The squad fires off 27.1 three-point attempts per game, good for 12
th in the nation, while ranking 23
rd with 8.6 three-pointers per game.
Northern Arizona returns home for two of its final three home games next week, hosting Portland State on Feb. 13 at 6 p.m. and Sacramento State on Feb. 15 at 2 p.m.
