FLAGSTAFF, Ariz (January 13, 2026) – The Northern Arizona women's basketball team welcomes Sacramento State and Portland State for a home stand this week as it continues Big Sky Conference competition. The Lumberjacks will tipoff against the Hornets on Thursday, Jan 15 at 6 p.m. Mountain Standard time and the Vikings on Saturday, Jan. 17 at 2 p.m. MST. Both contests will be streamed on ESPN+.
NAU stands at 6-11 overall and 2-2 in Big Sky action entering this week and has won five of its last seven games, following a 71-58 win over Weber State on Jan. 8 and a 59-46 loss to Idaho State on Jan. 11 on the road. The win over Weber State was historic, as
Naomi White drained a program-record nine triples in the contest while also becoming fifth all-time in NAU history for points in a single game with 37, also the most scored by any player in the Big Sky this year. It also marked the program's 50th overall and 16th consecutive victory over the Wildcats. The 'Jacks will look to get back into the win column this week and string together back-to-back home victories for the second time this season.
Sacramento State brings an 8-8 record into this contest, including an 2-1 mark in Big Sky play. The Hornets dropped their league opener to ISU, 61-46, but responded with an emphatic 60-39 win over Weber State last Thursday and 68-64 win over Portland State on Saturday. Ruby Gray is scoring 14.8 points per game to lead the offense, while Preseason Big Sky MVP Benthe Versteeg is dishing a team-best 5.25 assists per game. Sacramento State is holding opponents to 58.8 points per game, second only behind NAU's last opponent in Idaho State. The Hornets are also second in the league in blocks at 4.13 per game. Aaron Kallhoff is in his third year at the helm in Sacramento and has improved the Hornet's win percentage each year during his tenure.
Portland State stands at 5-10 overall, including a 1-2 mark in league games. The Vikings hit the road to play Northern Colorado this week before heading to Flagstaff, looking to snap a two-game skid after winning its conference opener over Weber State. PSU is second-to-last in the league in scoring margin (-6.7) and opponent field goal percentage (42.9), while sitting last in 3-point field goals made (70). Kyleigh Brown is averaging 18.6 points per game on 43.8% shooting and Ajae Yoakum is pulling down 6.8 boards a game. The Vikings are led by first-year head coach Karlie Burris, who previously spent time at NAU as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator from 2012-2017.
