UAF Women Rout Western Oregon, 64-39
FAIRBANKS, AK-For 15 minutes, the University of Alaska Fairbanks' women's basketball team and Western Oregon battled on even terms in their Great Northwest Athletic Conference game at the Patty Center Thursday evening.
Then the Nanooks ended the suspense with a 20-5 run that left them ahead at halftime, 35-20, and cruised to a 64-39 victory in the first game of a doubleheader.
Senior forward Cody Burgess (Leavenworth, WA/Cascade HS/Wenatchee Valley CC) began the run with a layup. Senior guard Adrienne Taalak (Nuiqsuit, AK/Mount Edgecumbe HS) followed with a three-pointer and a jump shot, sophomore forward
Marsha Schirack (Wasilla, AK/Wasilla HS) added a trey, and freshman guard
Kari Reabold (Fairbanks, AK/Lathrop HS) added yet a third three-point shot.
After a free throw by Leada Berkey interrupted the run, Taalak's layup got UAF going again. Senior guard Courtney Mason (Juneau, AK/Juneau-Douglas HS) and sophomore forward
Karen Rabung (Nikiski, AK/Nikiski HS) each connected as the Nanooks built a 15-point halftime advantage.
"We were sloppy at the beginning of the game, and I don't think we executed as well as we did the last time we played them," said UAF Head Coach Lynne Andrew. "All year, our goals have been to out rebound the other team, hold them to 55 points, and commit les than 15 turnovers. When we do that, we win."
Everyone saw action, as only one Nanook played more than 25 minutes and each player played at least 11. "It gave us a chance to get a preview of next year," said Andrew. "We got a lot of people playing time, and had a chance to see some people play. Kari is going to be a great player for us, and
Karen Rabung had a great game off the bench. We'll have to play better than we did tonight when we play Humboldt Saturday."
Burgess led UAF with 19 points, Taalak added 13 and Rabung contributed 10. Reabold had seven rebounds, and junior guard Valerie Hartman (Oak Harbor, WA/Oak Harbor HS) added six assists.
Shannon Talbott led the Wolves with 18 points, but she was the only player in double figures.
The Nanooks improved to 12-10, 8-5 in GNAC play, while WOU fell to 5-17 and 2-12. UAF will return to action when they host Humboldt State Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. That game will precede the men's game against Western Washington.
-UAF BASKETBALL-
