FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (Interstat) — Naomi White scored 27 points and Northern Arizona used a decisive third-quarter surge to pull away from Montana for an 81-72 victory in a Big Sky Conference women’s basketball game Thursday at Walkup Skydome.

The Lumberjacks, who led by a single point at halftime, outscored the Lady Griz 21-13 in the third period to build a cushion they would not relinquish. The win improved Northern Arizona to 5-9 overall, while Montana fell to 3-9.

The most important stretch of the game came late in the third quarter. With Montana trailing 53-52 after a Rae Ehrman 3-pointer, Northern Arizona engineered a 9-0 run over the final 2:21 of the period. The spurt was fueled by the inside-outside combination of White and Emma Dasovich. White converted a layup and the ensuing free throw after being fouled, and Dasovich followed with a layup of her own. White then capped the quarter with another driving layup just before the buzzer, giving the Lumberjacks a 64-56 lead and critical momentum heading into the final frame.

Montana, which had fought to stay close behind the scoring of Mack Konig, could not mount a sustained comeback in the fourth quarter. The Lady Griz managed only 10 points in the final period, shooting 4 of 15 from the field. Northern Arizona’s lead never dipped below six points in the quarter, as the Lumberjacks answered every Montana basket.

Konig, a guard from Milton, Canada, led all scorers with 27 points for Montana, adding five assists in 35 minutes. Avery Waddington of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, contributed 16 points and Ehrman added 11 off the bench. But the Lady Griz struggled from beyond the arc, making just 7 of 32 3-point attempts, and were outrebounded on the offensive glass 9-3.

White, from Omaha, Nebraska, matched Konig’s 27 points while playing all 40 minutes for Northern Arizona. Her efficiency was key, as she shot 11 of 21 from the field, including 3 of 6 from 3-point range. She was supported by a balanced attack: Audrey Taylor of Boise, Idaho, scored 17 points, Dasovich of Surprise, Arizona, had 15 points and six assists, and Madison Watts of San Pedro, California, added 10 points.

Northern Arizona’s offensive execution proved superior, as the Lumberjacks posted an offensive rating of 114.6 points per 100 possessions, compared to Montana’s 99.2. The Lumberjacks shot 51.7% from the field and a blistering 52.4% from 3-point range, connecting on 11 of 21 attempts. Montana shot a respectable 47.4% on two-point field goals but its poor long-range shooting and 11-of-18 performance from the free-throw line hindered its ability to keep pace.

The game opened at a brisk offensive pace, with Northern Arizona taking a 22-20 lead after the first quarter. The teams traded baskets throughout a tightly contested second period, which ended with the Lumberjacks holding a narrow 43-39 advantage. The third-quarter run, however, shifted the game firmly in favor of the home team.

The victory was a successful conference opener for Northern Arizona, which was projected as a heavy favorite by advanced metrics. Montana continues to search for consistency after a challenging non-conference slate.

Montana travels to face Northern Colorado on Saturday. Northern Arizona will host Montana State the same day.