Olivia Moran Soars to 1,000 Career Points in Thrilling Non-Conference Showdown at Grand Canyon

PHOENIX, Ariz. (Dec. 29, 2024) – The Northern Arizona women’s basketball squad concluded non-conference competition and 2024 with a 79-70 defeat at the hands of Grand Canyon this afternoon at the Global Credit Arena in Phoenix, Ariz.
 
The Lumberjacks battled for the full 40 minutes to almost overcome an 18-point shortfall, concluding the non-conference period with a 9-4 record for the season. Grand Canyon achieved its 11th consecutive victory and remains unbeaten at home (11-0), elevating its overall record to 13-2 for the year.
 
Olivia Moran recorded 14 points, marking 1,000 in her career at Northern Arizona. The senior began the day needing precisely 14 points and netted 12 in the third quarter before converting the final two at the free throw line in the fourth. She wrapped up the game with 14 points and nine rebounds.
 
Accompanying her in double-digit scoring was Taylor Feldman with 25 points, 17 of which came during the second quarter. She was flawless from the free throw line at 6-for-6, achieved 8-of-12 from the field, and 3-for-5 from beyond the arc. Leia Beattie connected on four three-point shots and 5-of-10 from the field for 14 points. A remarkable 20-game double-digit scoring streak was halted for Sophie Glancey, who finished with nine points and nine rebounds.
 
Northern Arizona was down 46-21 at halftime, yet outscored the Lopes 41-33 in the latter half.

“GCU is an exceptional team and was prepared to compete. It took us a while to find our rhythm, but I am truly proud of the team’s determination in the second half,” stated head coach Loree Payne. “This gives us fantastic momentum as we enter conference play.”

 

Northern Arizona began the contest 0-for-9 from the floor, failing to score a field goal until 3:14 remained. Meanwhile, the Lopes jumped to a 14-2 advantage following a 12-0 spurt. This lead extended to 19-4, permitting GCU to be ahead 23-10 after the opening quarter. The Lumberjacks started to find their rhythm in the final minutes of the quarter, converting four of their last five field goals. The Lopes could not miss, shooting at 69 percent (11-16) during the first compared to NAU’s 29 percent (4-14). Saniyah Neverson added six points, making three of NAU’s four field goals in the opening quarter.

 

Feldman accumulated 17 of her 19 first-half points in the second quarter, going an impressive 5-for-5 from the field, 3-for-3 from three-point range, and 4-for-4 from the free throw line during that period. She initiated a personal 7-0 run to cut the deficit to single digits, but GCU countered with a seven-point surge that restored a 38-20 lead. By halftime, NAU trailed 46-29 after being outscored 23-to-19 in the second quarter.

 

Following the initial two quarters, the Lumberjacks shot 38 percent (10-for-26) from the field, compared to Grand Canyon’s 67 percent (20-for-30).

 

The Lopes faced some foul difficulties to commence the third quarter, allowing Northern Arizona to narrow the gap to 49-37. Olivia Moran contributed all six points in a 6-0 run, and the defense kept the Lopes from scoring a field goal for 3:31 in the third. However, by the midpoint, the Lumberjacks still trailed 53-39.

 

Olivia Moran concluded the quarter with 12 of NAU’s 21 third-quarter points, allowing the ‘Jacks to outscore the Lopes 21-to-15 during that period. Olivia Moran followed up a layup with two free throws from Nyah Moran, reducing it to a single-digit difference, but GCU remained composed and quickly added six points to extend back to 59-47. At the conclusion of the third, NAU trailed 61-50. Defensively, the Lumberjacks restricted the Lopes to 25 percent (4-for-14) from the field during the third quarter.

 

Northern Arizona persisted with determination in the final quarter. A 6-0 run that included a traditional three-point play from Glancey and a three-pointer from Beattie made it a 69-61 contest with 4:51 remaining. The Lopes called a timeout, and after the break, Feldman sank a jumper, and Glancey converted a free throw for a 9-0 run. With less than three minutes to go, GCU halted the run with five rapid points and managed to keep the Lumberjacks at bay, winning 79-70.

 

The Lopes concluded the game with a shooting percentage of 54.4 percent (31-57), making 5-of-11 from beyond the arc and 12-of-13 from the free throw line, leading from start to finish. Northern Arizona shot at 41.5 percent from the field (22-53) with seven three-pointers and a 19-for-25 performance at the free throw line.

 

The teams combined for 39 turnovers, with NAU responsible for 20 that GCU capitalized on, scoring 22 points off those turnovers. NAU also faced a disadvantage in the paint, being outscored 52-to-28, while both teams recorded 30 rebounds.

 

Northern Arizona will now commence Big Sky Conference action on Thursday evening (Jan. 2) at Idaho State before facing Weber State on Jan. 4 in Ogden, Utah.