University of Alaska Fairbanks Athletics

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FAIRBANKS, Alaska — The Alaska women's basketball team was thankful Thursday for a huge first half in which it shot nearly 60 percent as a team, helping it earn an 82-65 Thanksgiving Day win over Dominican University of California in both teams' opening game of the 2013 Mt. McKinley Bank North Star Invitational.
 
The Nanooks (5-1) got points from eight different players in the first half, as they outshot the Penguins (0-5) 57.6 to 33.3 percent and outscored them 44-25. That would prove to be the difference in the game, as both teams scored 38 points and shot below 40 percent in the second half.
 
Alaska continues its best start since 2007-08 with the win. The Nanooks began
 
Alaska was led by junior forward Kelly Logue (Fair Oaks, Calif./Journalism), who had 14 points, five rebounds, four steals and three assists. Logue was named the Era Alaska Nanook of the Game for her performance. She scored 10 of her 14 in the first half on a perfect 5 for 5 shooting performance. Junior guard Benissa Bulaya (Sacramento, Calif./Communications) scored all nine of her points in the first half, going 4 for 6 from the floor and 1 for three from the free-throw line.
 
Dominican (Calif.) had three players in double-digit scoring, led by Salonika Quewon-Owens' 14 points. Quewon-Owens also had seven rebounds and four steals. Melissa Boscarino had 13 points and Noelle Roldan poured in 10.
 
Alaska started on a 13-3 run in the first 4 minutes, 13 seconds of the game. Five different players contributed to the run as Alaska spread the ball around, earning three assists during the stretch.
 
The Nanooks pushed their lead to 19 at 32-13 in the first half with a 12-2 run across 2:53, again sharing the ball with contributions from five different players. They would eventually push it to 21 with a 38-17 lead at 2:59 before halftime.
 
Alaska grew its lead to as much as 25 during the second half, while Dominican (Calif.) never got closer than 16 points. A 3-pointer by Roldan with 41 seconds left in the game pulled the Penguins within 16 at 80-64. The Nanooks were ahead by at least 20 points for 11:16 of the second half.
 
The Nanooks face Lees-McRae (2-4), losers to Wayne State College (6-0) 98-67 Thursday, at 4 p.m. Friday on day two of the Mt. McKinley Bank North Star Invitational.