Feature Story
Jacey bailey Working her way up the
Record Books BY CODY BASHORE
Jacey Bailey only needed two years to break into Northern Arizona University’s record book. Among the best shooters in NAU program history, Bailey is already among the top 10 for 3-pointers made, 3-pointers attempted and 3-pointers made per game. With 790 points, the senior is closing in on becoming NAU’s 19th member of the 1,000-point club after hitting 70 3-pointers last season. Though the production now speaks for itself, Bailey’s development and confidence as a shooter only came recently. “People had to tell me, like, ‘Jacey, you’re a shooter.’ So it took a lot of words of encouragement to finally understand that,” Bailey said. “But I guess it’s just developed over time.” Beginning her college career at Florida Atlantic, Bailey arrived in the United States thousands of miles away from her home of Burnaby, British Columbia. While she enjoyed her time in Florida,
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Bailey did miss seeing her family at games, even if it would be just an occasional thing. “I wasn’t home sick, so deciding to transfer wasn’t because of that,” Bailey said. “Just like the ability for (my family) to watch was definitely a plus when I transferred here. The reason I went there was more of that I really meshed with the coaching staff. And on the visit, it was Florida. I was on the beach, I just couldn’t say no.” With a desire to get back to the West Coast, Bailey found a connection to NAU through assistant coach Kellee Barney and one of her coaches at FAU. A visit to Flagstaff, and knowing some of the Big Sky Conference’s members such as Portland State and Eastern Washington offered easier trips from Canada, were all Bailey needed to make her decision. Playing 17.8 minutes per game for the Owls in 2016-17, Bailey averaged 4.3 points and 2.7 rebounds across 29 games and 15 starts. Just about 26% of her shots came from behind the arc at FAU, with Bailey’s 3-point shooting picking up once she returned to the court.
2020-21 NORTHERN ARIZONA MEN’S AND WOMEN’S BASKETBALL YEARBOOK
