Lumberjacks pick up second straight win at Dahlberg Arena
1/19/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Northern Arizona shot 54.7 percent against the Big Sky Conference's best defense and came away with a 65-60 victory over Montana Thursday night at Dahlberg Arena. The Lumberjacks led by two at the break, 30-28, but had to rally back from an eight-point, second-half deficit to remain undefeated in league play at 3-0, 13-5 overall.
The Lady Griz saw their nine-game winning streak come to a close, dropping to 1-1 in league play, 12-3 overall.
The victory was the Lumberjacks' second straight on the Lady Griz' home floor after 20 straight losses.
Alyssa Wahl scored 15 points and Natalie Metz added 11 to lead NAU.
Freshman Mandy Morales had 26 points, seven rebounds and three assists for Montana. Sophomore Johanna Closson added 17 points and senior Katie Edwards had eight, but the rest of the Lady Griz combined for just nine additional points.
The first half had seven ties, but a Metz jumper at the 6:48 mark gave the Lumberjacks a lead they would keep the rest of the opening half. Montana cut the lead to two, 30-28, when Morales hit two free throws with 47 seconds remaining.
Northern Arizona had seven players score in the first half and shot 51.9 percent. Nicky Eason scored all eight of her points in the first half.
Closson had 12 points at the break and Morales nine for Montana, which shot 37.0 percent for the first 20 minutes.
Morales and sophomore Dana Conway combined to score the first 10 points of the second half, giving UM a 38-30 lead with 16:34 to play after a Morales jumper in the paint. But the Lumberjacks scored the next six points and eventually tied the game at 43-43 on a jumper by Kim Winkfield.
NAU led by a point, 48-47, when it went on a decisive 9-0 run to take a 57-47 lead with 5:20 remaining. Wahl scored the final six points in the run.
The Lady Griz pulled within four, 57-53, with 1:40 to play after two Morales free throws, but Wahl answered for Northern Arizona and the final score of 65-60 would be as close as Montana got the rest of the way.
NAU shot 57.7 percent in the second half and had a 32-25 rebounding advantage for the game.
The Lady Griz shot 38.8 percent for the game and hit 19-of-20 shots from the free throw line (.950).
Eason, the reigning Big Sky Player of the Week, finished with eight points, nine rebounds, four assists and three blocks, coming within 12 points of 1,000 for her career.
Morales finished 13-for-14 from the line.
Montana is home for Sacramento State Saturday night at 7 p.m.
The Lady Griz saw their nine-game winning streak come to a close, dropping to 1-1 in league play, 12-3 overall.
The victory was the Lumberjacks' second straight on the Lady Griz' home floor after 20 straight losses.
Alyssa Wahl scored 15 points and Natalie Metz added 11 to lead NAU.
Freshman Mandy Morales had 26 points, seven rebounds and three assists for Montana. Sophomore Johanna Closson added 17 points and senior Katie Edwards had eight, but the rest of the Lady Griz combined for just nine additional points.
The first half had seven ties, but a Metz jumper at the 6:48 mark gave the Lumberjacks a lead they would keep the rest of the opening half. Montana cut the lead to two, 30-28, when Morales hit two free throws with 47 seconds remaining.
Northern Arizona had seven players score in the first half and shot 51.9 percent. Nicky Eason scored all eight of her points in the first half.
Closson had 12 points at the break and Morales nine for Montana, which shot 37.0 percent for the first 20 minutes.
Morales and sophomore Dana Conway combined to score the first 10 points of the second half, giving UM a 38-30 lead with 16:34 to play after a Morales jumper in the paint. But the Lumberjacks scored the next six points and eventually tied the game at 43-43 on a jumper by Kim Winkfield.
NAU led by a point, 48-47, when it went on a decisive 9-0 run to take a 57-47 lead with 5:20 remaining. Wahl scored the final six points in the run.
The Lady Griz pulled within four, 57-53, with 1:40 to play after two Morales free throws, but Wahl answered for Northern Arizona and the final score of 65-60 would be as close as Montana got the rest of the way.
NAU shot 57.7 percent in the second half and had a 32-25 rebounding advantage for the game.
The Lady Griz shot 38.8 percent for the game and hit 19-of-20 shots from the free throw line (.950).
Eason, the reigning Big Sky Player of the Week, finished with eight points, nine rebounds, four assists and three blocks, coming within 12 points of 1,000 for her career.
Morales finished 13-for-14 from the line.
Montana is home for Sacramento State Saturday night at 7 p.m.
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