FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (August 28, 2025) – The Northern Arizona women's basketball team has released its 2025-26 schedule, head coach Laura Dinkins announced on Thursday afternoon.
Season tickets are now available for purchase at this link as the 'Jacks enter their first season under Dinkins, who returns to her alma mater as a first-year head coach.
Dinkins inherits a program that advanced to the second round of the WBIT following a victory over second-seeded Arizona in the first round. The Lumberjacks posted a 27-8 record last season, setting a new program record for wins in a season with 27. They look to return to the top of the Big Sky Conference following an appearance in the conference semifinals last year.
A proud NAU alumna and former standout player from 2003-08, Dinkins returned to Flagstaff on April 1, 2025, after two successful seasons as the associate head coach at Grand Canyon University. She is joined by associate head coach Bryan Camacho, assistant coaches Nicholas Milan and Dajae Black, and director of operations Kristyna Jeskeova.
"This season marks a new chapter for NAU Women's Basketball," coach Dinkins said. "With a roster full of new faces and young talent, we're shaping the path toward our biggest aspirations."
The Lumberjacks' campaign begins in Flagstaff with an exhibition matchup against Bethesda on Oct. 27.
Northern Arizona's non-conference slate features road games at New Mexico (Nov. 3), Utah Tech (Nov. 8) and UC Irvine (Nov. 15) before returning to Flagstaff for its home opener against Pepperdine (Nov. 19).
The 'Jacks will take on Arizona on Nov. 21 where they will aim to extend their winning streak over the Wildcats. The Lumberjacks won both matchups against their in-state rival from Tucson last season. In March, NAU secured its first win, in the McKale Center since 1978 and second in program history.
Thanksgiving week will be highlighted by a pair of games in Las Vegas, where NAU faces Northern Iowa, marking the first meeting between the programs since 1994, and Creighton on Nov. 26 and 28 respectively on a neutral court at UNLV.
December adds more road tests at St. Thomas, CSUN and UC San Diego, with key home games against South Dakota State on Dec. 6 and Park University on Dec. 15.
Big Sky Conference action tips off with a bang on January 1, as the Lumberjacks host Montana, followed by Montana State on Jan. 3. The early weeks of January feature road trips to Weber State and Idaho State prior to returning home for matchups against Sacramento State and Portland State.
January also provides a rare NAU doubleheader in the Walkup Skydome on Thursday, Jan. 29, as both the Lumberjack men's and women's basketball teams take on Eastern Washington. Game times will be announced later.
The regular season concludes with a road test at Montana State on March 2 before the focus shifts to the Big Sky Conference Tournament in Boise, Idaho from March 7–11 where the 'Jacks will pursue a conference title and NCAA Tournament berth.
"Endurance, discipline, grit, and execution form the foundation of our team, and with the goal of playing our best basketball when conference play begins, our schedule presents the challenges that will help us grow, compete, and establish our identity at the highest level in the Big Sky," said Dinkins.
Senior Audrey Taylor will play a key lead role in the development of this season's roster as one of only two returners from last season. As a junior, she played in 34 games with 15 three-pointers. She scored in double figures twice, dished 46 assists and pulled down 36 rebounds.
The Lumberjacks welcome 12 new faces to the roster this year. Among them is graduate transfer Simone Morris, who played in 92 games with 76 starts over four seasons at Robert Morris. Averaging 22.3 minutes per game, she scored 676 career points, dished 69 assists and totaled 35 blocks to go with 58 steals. She was a 78.5% free throw shooter and made 50 three-pointers.
For the full 2025-26 schedule, please click here.
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