MOSCOW, Idaho –  Northern Arizona (6-5, 3-0) topped Idaho (1-10, 0-2) 76-63 at ICCU Arena Thursday night to bring the 2021 home slate to a close.
 
A strong first and fourth quarter bookended the win for the shorthanded Lumberjacks, who were playing with just seven players.
 
NAU shot over 40 percent from the floor for the game and jumped out to an early 14-point lead in the first quarter. Turnovers plagued the Vandals in the first half, committing 14 in the opening 20 minutes. For the game Idaho turned the ball over 19 times, leading to 27 Northern Arizona points.
 
After a slow start, the Vandals rebounded in the second quarter, shooting the ball at a higher percentage but still trailed by 11 at the half. Idaho then stormed out of the locker room and the long ball started to fall as they rallied to trim the NAU lead to just a point. However, the Vandals couldn't get any closer as NAU pulled away down the stretch thanks to timely baskets and trips to the charity stripe.
 
Beyonce Bea narrowly missed a double-double with 16 points and nine rebounds. Tiana Johnson continued her hot hand from three-point range, shooting 50 percent from distance to record her first double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Sydney Gandy scored 15 points and dished out two assists.
 
Lauren Orndoff led Northern Arizona with a game-high 22 points.

The Vandals will look to start 2022 with a bang when they return to action Thursday, Jan. 6 against Montana State. Tip-off in Bozeman, Mont. is set for 6 p.m. pacific time.
 
Follow the Vandals all season long on Twitter and Instagram, @VandalsWBB and with the Voice of the Vandals, Doug Taylor, at GoVandals.com/Listen.