Box Score [
Box Score]
The Alaska women's basketball team closed the Mt. McKinley Bank North Star Invitational with an 84-52 loss to tournament champions Fort Lewis College Saturday night. The loss ranked the Nanooks last in the tournament and marked the fifth straight loss this season.
Nicole Bozek had an outstanding game with 15 points and a perfect 11-for-11 record at the free throw line. She also finished with a team-best seven rebounds.
The Nanooks came out of the gate aggressively. They held a lead for the first 6:24 of the game before seeing the game tied at 10-10. They held the deficit to five points or less for the first 12 minutes, something that seemed to surprise the Skyhawks who couldn't figure the Nanooks out early on.
Although the Nanooks were never able to regain a lead, there were bright spots. They cashed in on chances at the free throw line with an 82.6 percent mark, which was substantially raised by Bozek.
The Nanooks out-rebounded their foes 35-32, including 23 on defense that allowed them scoring chances.
Adrienne Beans shot 50 percent from the field and finished with 10 points.
Whitney Anderson, Alaska's lone all-tournament team selection, scored nine.
The problem was the turnovers. Alaska committed 34 as a team. Anderson gave up 11 of them. Beans and
Jeni Gabriel gave up six each. By the end of the game, Fort Lewis had collected 17 total steals. They scored 48 points off turnovers, while Alaska gained just 12.
Katerina Garcia led the Skyhawks with 17 total points. Mary Rose Paiz and Abby Jackson each finished with 13.
Alaska opens conference play Saturday, Dec. 4, when they host Alaska Anchorage at the Patty Center. The game precedes the final game of the men's Glacier Classic.
Tournament Champions: Fort Lewis
Runners Up: Mercyhurst
All-Tournament Team
Abby Jackson, Fort Lewis
Amy Achesinski, Mercyhurst
Kelsey Janusch, Dominican (CA)
Whitney Anderson, Alaska
Samantha Loadman, Mercyhurst
MVP: Dana Schreibvogel, Fort Lewis
