FAIRBANKS, Alaska — Alaska women's basketball head coach
Cody Bench announced Wednesday the field for the 2014 North Star Invitational, set to be held over Thanksgiving Weekend, Nov. 27-29, at the Patty Center.
The three teams that will join the Nanooks in the annual three-day tournament will be Augustana College (S.D.) of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, Saginaw Valley State (Mich.) of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, and Colorado Christian of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. All three had winning records last season and all three made the postseason.
"The field of teams should make for a great tournament," said Bench. "Each team brings a competitive roster and established program. Playing teams from different conferences gives a great opportunity to see competition on a national scene."
The tournament schedule calls for three two-game sessions on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Games are scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. each day, with the Nanooks playing in the second game each day.
Alaska played in the championship game of the 2013 Mt. McKinley Bank North Star Invitational against Wayne State College (Neb.) after extending its best start in six years to 6-1 with two wins in its first two games of the tourney. Junior guards
Benissa Bulaya (Sacramento, Calif./Communication) and
Kelly Logue (Fair Oaks, Calif./Journalism) both made the All-Tournament team as the Wildcats took home the team title.
In 2013-14 Alaska had its most wins (nine) since the 2007-08 season. The Nanooks' offense was also the best it has been in 13 years, averaging 71.2 points per game – its highest scoring average since joining the GNAC in 2001-02. Freshman forward
Jordan Wilson (Henderson, Colo./Business Administration) was named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year, the Nanooks' first major conference award winner since joining the GNAC in 2001-02.
Augustana went 16-12 overall last season and 11-11 in the NSIC, making it as far as the NSIC Tournament quarterfinals before being eliminated by Northern State. The Vikings had two players make the NSIC All-Conference teams, with Shaunteva Ashley being named to the Daktronics All-Central Region Second Team.
Saginaw Valley State showed marked improvement in 2013-14 while also making its conference tournament quarterfinals, finishing the year with a 14-12 overall record and 12-10 in the GLIAC. The 14 wins were the most for SVSU in 10 years and the 12 conference victories were its most since 1998-99. The Cardinals had four players average double-figure scoring last season and averaged 72.9 points per game as a team. SVSU head coach Jamie Pewinski was named the GLIAC Coach of the Year and two players earned All-GLIAC Second Team honors.
Colorado Christian went 15-13 overall and 13-9 in the RMAC last season while making the RMAC quarterfinals. The Cougars also played in the National Christian College Athletic Association Central Region Tournament, falling to Mid-America Christian (Okla.). CCU had three players make RMAC All-Conference teams, including junior guard Christina Whitelaw, who made the All-RMAC First Team for the third time in her career and was named Co-Defensive Player of the Year.
"The North Star Invitational is great preparation for conference play," added Bench. "It puts us in back-to-back games and competitive situations. We look forward to having these various teams in Fairbanks."
2014 North Star Invitational schedule| Date | Time | Game |
| Nov. 27, 2014 | 2 p.m. | Augustana College vs. Colorado Christian |
| Nov. 27, 2014 | 4 p.m. | Saginaw Valley State vs. Alaska |
| Nov. 28, 2014 | 2 p.m. | Colorado Christian vs. Saginaw Valley State |
| Nov. 28, 2014 | 4 p.m. | Augustana College vs. Alaska |
| Nov. 29, 2014 | 2 p.m. | Saginaw Valley State vs. Augustana College |
| Nov. 29, 2014 | 4 p.m. | Colorado Christian vs. Alaska |
