FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (January 3, 2026) – The Northern Arizona women's basketball team outscored the defending Big Sky Champs 37-35 in the second half but ultimately fell to Montana State, 82-65 on Saturday afternoon on Findlay Toyota Court inside the Walkup Skydome. The Lumberjacks fall to 5-10 and 1-1 in the Big Sky play, while Montana improves to 9-4 and 2-0 in league action.
Naomi White (18) and
Layla Davis (11) each scored in double figures to pace NAU, who held a slim edge on field goal percentage for the game, 41.7 to 39.8.
Alyssa Harris produced a season-high five points off the bench, while
Kayla Williams went for seven points and seven boards in just over 13 minutes.
The 'Jacks allowed a season-high-tying 52 points in the paint and were challenged much of the game by the Cats full-court pressure, coughing up 25 turnovers to also tie their season high.
Taylee Chirrick scored 27 points on 12-of-19 from the floor while also grabbing eight boards and five steals to lead the Bobcats. Entering the contest, Montana State ranked last in the Big Sky in three-point percentage at 28.2%, and were held to 25% (7-of-28) for the game.
The Bobcats led wire-to-wire, stretching their largest lead of the game to 24 at the 6:16 mark of the third period. The Lumberjacks would inflict a 10-0 run bridging the third and fourth quarters to make it a 62-52 game with 8:39 to play, capped off by a White layup in the fast break. However, NAU was unable to break out of exchanging baskets down the stretch as Montana State pushed its lead back to 15 with just over a minute to go, sealing the game.
NAU hits the road next week to play Weber State on Thursday, January 8th at 6 p.m. Mountain Standard time before going to Idaho State to face the Bengals on Saturday, Jan. 10th at 2 p.m. MST. Both contests will be streamed on ESPN+.
