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Contribution from its seniors was the key difference in the Lumberjacks’ play Feb. 7, as NAU hung on to win, 70-68 against the Eastern Washington Eagles at home. 

NAU’s offense was fresh and energetic with plenty of ball movement. The Lumberjacks (7-16, 4-6) displayed an offensive explosion in the first half as they scored 45 points and shot 60 percent from the field to take an eight-point lead into the locker room at halftime. 

“We had a lot of fun the whole game,” said senior guard Janelle Matthews. “We felt it as a group, and it’s good to get this win.”

Katie Schafer attempts a layup in the Lady Jacks home game against Eastern Washington, Saturday. The Lady Jacks won 70-68. - Jesse Kasten/ The Lumberjack

In the second half, the Eagles (9-14, 4-6) stormed back to make it a back-and-forth game. Down 67-68, NAU senior point guard Sade Cunningham slashed toward the basket to score on a layup, putting NAU back in front. Lumberjack Katie Schafer then went to the free-throw line and made one of two charity shots to put her team up 70-68. With 11 seconds left and one last chance to tie the game, Eastern Washington failed.

The win put the Lumberjacks in a four-way tie for third place in the Big Sky Conference, with just six games to go before the conference tournament. Only the top six teams advance to the tournament and NAU should have a fighting chance of making the tournament by playing four of its remaining six games at home.

Coming into the game, Cunningham only needed three points to record 1,000 career points to become only the twelfth player in the program’s history to do so. Cunningham finished with 21 points, nine assists and five rebounds while playing her usual 40 minutes.

“I just found out earlier this week that I was even close (to 1,000 points),” Cunningham said. “It feels really good, but that’s just because we won. If we would have lost, it wouldn’t feel the same.”

Matthews finished with 14 points, while Schafer scored nine. Sophomore forward Tiffany Amos came off the bench to add another 10. NAU scored 26 bench points and shot 52.2 percent for the game.

“It’s hard to remember the last time I felt this good,” said head coach Laurie Kelly. “When our seniors play this well we are a really tough team to beat.”

Unfortunately for the Lumberjacks, playing Portland State for a second time this season did not help them in the Big Sky standings, as they lost 69-57 on Feb. 5 at home.

Portland State kept it an up-tempo style game and constantly pushed the pace. The Lumberjacks struggled — never seeming to be comfortable. The Vikings shot 48 percent for the game, while the Lumberjacks shot a dismal 28 percent.

“I never felt we clicked as a team,” Kelly said.

NAU’s seniors, Cunningham, Schafer and Matthews combined for a miserable 4-21 shooting performance from the field. There was one bright spot in NAU’s offense as freshman guard Caty Huntington, in just her third start of the season, recorded a team-high 15 points and played with a great amount of defensive pressure.

NAU will be on the road this week to play Montana State Feb. 12 and will be at Montana Feb. 14. A road trip may very well make or break the Lumberjacks’ chances of making the tournament.

The win puts the Lumberjacks in a four-way tie for third place in the Big Sky Conference, with just six games to go before the conference tournament. Only the top six teams advance to the tournament and NAU will have a fighting chance of making the tournament by playing four of its remaining six games at home.