by By Cody Bashore, NAU Athletic Communications
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (January 14, 2021) – Despite taking a one-point lead with just two minutes left in the game, the Northern Arizona University women’s basketball team dropped its fourth straight game Thursday night.
Falling 83-74 to the Montana Lady Griz, the Lumberjacks slipped to 5-6 this season, 3-4 in Big Sky Conference play. Montana, now 5-3 overall and 2-1 in the conference, scored the game’s final 10 points to retake control of a game it led by as much as 13 in the third quarter.
“The thing that stands out is they shot 55 percent from the field,” said NAU head coach Loree Payne. “I felt like defensively, especially in the first half, they were getting way too easy of shots. We can’t continue giving up 40 points at the half and be competitive in the Big Sky.”
The Lady Griz jumped out to a 16-8 lead across the opening five minutes of the game before the Lumberjacks knotted it up at 21 entering the second quarter. The lead changed hands between the two schools five times in the second quarter, with NAU taking its largest lead of the night at 35-31 thanks to back-to-back threes by JJ Nakai (Navajo) and Jacey Bailey off of assists from Miki’ala Maio.
However, Montana answered with a 9-0 run to close out the half as Madi Schoening, Hannah Thurmon and Jordyn Schweyen connected on a three-pointer apiece in the final two minutes before halftime.
“We just have to be better all the way around. I thought our intensity was not where it needed to be, especially to start the game,” Payne said. “Honestly, they had better intensity at practice yesterday than they did in the first half of the game, which is a little perplexing.”
Trailing 40-35 at halftime, the Lumberjacks again took it to the Lady Griz with a run to cut the deficit down to one. Forcing three turnovers across the first three minutes of the second half, NAU then received a huge boost on the offensive end as Emily Rodabaugh connected on three three-pointers in less than two minutes of play.
Finishing with a team-high 18 points, Rodabaugh finished the night 6-of-6 from three-point range to set a new Lumberjack record for most threes made in a game without a miss. Rene Coggins had previously set the record of 5-for-5 at Montana on Dec. 31, 2015, when she snapped the record that had stood for nearly 15 years.
“I’ve got to give credit to my teammates. They find me when I’m open and set screens for me, they are really solid when they do that. Coming off of the games at Idaho State, I didn’t really play a lot at the perimeter, it was more of an inside type game for me so I think today I just wanted to try to get back to it. I know that I can shoot it and things were falling for me today.”
However, following Rodabaugh’s third make during the stretch, Montana bounced back with another 9-0 run eventually leading to their 13-point lead at 65-52.
The sides essentially traded baskets from there as the Lady Griz maintained control with a 69-57 lead with 7:33 left in the game. From there, NAU made its final push of the night.
Coming down with a defensive rebound, Regan Schenck sprinted up the floor to draw a foul and convert both ensuing free throws. A steal by Rodabaugh led to a three from Nakai, off an assist from Schenck. The junior guard stepped up and drilled a three-pointer at the top of the arc less than two minutes later, bringing NAU within four, 71-67.
Yet another three from Rodabaugh and a pair of layups by Khiarica Rasheed gave NAU its first lead, 73-72, since the second quarter as the game hit the two-minute mark before Montana closed out with its 10-0 run.
“We’ve got to get off to a better start. I feel like the games we’ve had a lot of success in, we’ve started with a lot of energy,” Payne said. “It’s hard because I feel like our energy right now is being generated through scoring offense and when we don’t start quick offensively, I feel like we get into this lull.”
Nakai and Bailey each finished the night with 13 points, followed by 10 for Maio. Schenck led the way on the boards with seven, adding in six assists and five points to her final line. Carmen Gfeller finished with a team-high 21 points for Montana, with Sophia Stiles adding 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
