Sophomore Kristine Knowlton |
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -- Lacey Tolbert paced all players with a career-high 28 points to lead Northern Arizona to a 73-44 victory over Sacramento State in a Big Sky Conference women’s basketball game Saturday evening at the Walkup Skydome.With the victory, Northern Arizona improved to 10-10 overall and 3-4 in the Big Sky. Sacramento State lost its eighth in a row while dropping to 2-18 and 0-7 in the conference. Northern Arizona is now 14-2 all-time against the Hornets and has won each of the previous 11 meetings between the two teams.
The Lumberjacks never trailed in the game as they forced 24 Hornet turnovers and limited Sacramento State to just a 28.8 field goal percentage (17-59). Northern Arizona led the Hornets in virtually every statistical category including field goals (27-17), field goal percentage (.474-.288), assists (17-4), steals (15-8) and free throws (18-7).
The Lumberjacks jumped out to a 9-3 lead as Tolbert scored five of the team’s first nine points. Sacramento State closed to within four points of the lead at 17-13 with 9:52 remaining in the first half. The Lumberjacks, however, responded with a 7-0 run to increase the lead to 24-13 with 6:20 remaining. Northern Arizona eventually took a 34-21 lead into halftime as the Hornets committed 11 turnovers and converted on just nine field goals in the first half.
Northern Arizona was up double digits during the entire second half and led by as many as 31 points before settling for the 29-point victory.
Joining Tolbert in double figures for the Lumberjacks were Joy Dixon (11 points) and Jen Snitker (10 points). Alexis Rhodes led the team with nine rebounds. Tolbert was 10-of-14 from the field and 7-of-7 from the free throw line while leading all players with four steals.
Sacramento State had three players in double figures comprising juniors Danielle Iceman (12 points) and Diane Peterson (10 points) and freshman Sarah Craig (10 points). Sophomore Kristine Knowlton led the team in rebounding for the third-consecutive game with 10 boards. The center is averaging 12.6 rebounds per game over that span.
The Hornets had 17 offensive rebounds (including five from Knowlton), but struggled at converting shots from the field. Sacramento State has now shot below 30 percent from the field in three-consecutive games.
Sacramento State returns to action next week for a pair road games against Eastern Washington (Thursday, Feb. 13, at 7:05 p.m.) and Portland State (Saturday, Feb. 15, at 7:05 p.m.).
