Box Score
FAIRBANKS, AK - The Alaska Nanooks women's basketball team could not capitalize on a strong first half and fell to the Montana State Billings Yellowjackets 67-49 on Saturday night at the Patty Center. The loss was the 13
th straight for the Nanooks who haven't tasted victory since their season opener.
Ronisha Edwards (Compton, CA) gave the Nanooks their first basket, and lead, of the game at the 2:56 mark as she knocked down a three-point basket for the early one point lead. Alaska continued their solid play as they opened up an 11-4 lead five minutes in after an
Alexandra Melonson (Seattle, WA) three-pointer.
MSU Billings quickly went on a 9-2 run, capped off by a Kayla Ryan jump shot that tied the contest at 13. After
Lakeshia Levi (Warner Robins, GA) gave the Nanooks the lead back, on the next possession, both teams combined to go scoreless for the next 4:14 of playing time. During the scoreless stretch the Nanooks and Yellowjackets combined to go 0-of-14 from the field and combined for three turnovers.
Both teams continued to match each other shot for shot the rest of the half as MSU Billings took a 31-28 lead into the locker room.
The Yellowjackets went into the half shooting 38% (13-of-34) from the field and were led by Callie Kautzmann who scored 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting. Kayla Ryan pulled down a game-high seven rebounds and chipped in six points.
Alaska went into the half shooting 33% (11-of-33) led by Edwards and Levi who each had seven points. Alaska was hampered by nine turnovers, but out-rebounded Montana State 25-22.
MSU Billings came out of the half on fire and scored the half's first eight points on back-to-back three's and a layup before
Jessica Harrison (Las Vegas, NV) broke the streak with two baskets of her own to end the streak.
The Yellowjackets responded with a 12-2 run over four minutes to push their lead to 18 and they never looked back. The MSU Billings' lead grew to as many as 24 down the stretch before finally defeating the Nanooks by 18.
Alaska finished the game shooting 33% (20-of-60) from the field and only 18% (3-of-16) from three-point land. Levi was the only Nanook in double-figures with 16 points as she also picked up 12 points for her seventh double-double of the season. Harrison picked up nine points and Melonson scored eight.
Montana State Billings finished shooting 37% (24-of-65) from the field and were led by three double-digit scorers, led by Ryan's double-double (16 points, 13 rebounds). Sarah McNamee (15) and Kautzmann (14) also picked up double-figure points in the win.
Alaska will return to action on Thursday to begin a three game home stand when they host Western Oregon. Tip is set for 5:15 p.m. Alaska time.
