Featured Image: Photo by Weber State Athletics
by Zachary Knecht
After an embarrassing loss Thursday night, the Weber State Wildcats hope to end their five-game skid against the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks. Weber State will visit the J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome on this road stretch as they try to get back on track in conference play.
To get back in the win column there are a couple of things the Wildcats must execute well so they can turn this season around.
Offense Needs to Bounce Back
Weber State’s offense has declined during the five-game losing streak before plummeting to their 39-point performance Thursday. Fortune is on their side however, as they face a poor defensive front in Northern Arizona.
The Lumberjacks allow 77.9 points per game. Part of that is due to their opponents rebounding the ball at an average of 41.9 times per contest; the other to allowing opponents to get to the free-throw line often. Opponents are at the line at an average of 25 times per night against the Lumberjacks, so if the Wildcats can shoot well and take advantage of opportunities that cone their way, they can bounce back.
Look for Daryn Hickok (16.8 ppg) to make amends for a poor performance in her last game and for Jadyn Matthews (13.8 ppg) to have another great performance.
Some for Everyone
The Lumberjacks, despite their record, are a tough team to match up against because of their depth. There is no standout player on this roster, but they can produce from everywhere. Four players on this roster put up double-digit points per night while three others produce an average of at least eight points. This Northern Arizona offense is potent, scoring 77.5 ppg, and shoots fairly well (41.8 FG%, 32.7 3PT%).
To keep up and get on the right track, the Wildcats can’t continue to solely rely on the production of Hickok and Matthews. Saturday night’s game needs to be a collective effort from all ends of the court. Emma Torbert and Laura Taylor are due for breakout games, so they will be players to look out for.
The Wildcats will tip off at 2:00 p.m. MT at Northern Arizona to change their fortune and stay in the mix in the Big Sky Conference.