FAIRBANKS, Alaska – After a long road trip last week and just over one month removed from its last home game, the Alaska women's basketball team returns to the Patty Center this week for a pair of Great Northwest Athletic Conference matchups.
The Nanooks (4-9, 0-3 GNAC) first take on Seattle Pacific (9-3, 3-1 GNAC) Thursday at 7 p.m., followed by a 3 p.m. meeting Saturday against Montana State-Billings (10-5, 2-2 GNAC).
Alaska is fresh off a pair of conference road losses. It fell 83-62 at Northwest Nazarene (Dec. 29) before dropping a 97-74 decision at Central Washington (Dec. 31).
Senior center
Nicole Bozek (Mukilteo, Wash.) led the team with 17.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, while senior forward
Autumn Greene (Lewiston, Idaho/Centralia CC) had 15.5 points and 6.5 rebounds. Junior forward
Jacqueline Lovato (Gunnison, Colo./McCook CC) also poured in a career-high 18 points Saturday and averaged 13.5 points and 4.5 rebounds for the week.
Bozek is currently seventh in the GNAC in scoring (15.8 ppg), sixth in rebounds (8.3 rpg) and blocks (0.8 bpg) and eighth in free throw percentage (.800), while Greene ranks 13th in scoring (11.5 ppg). Freshman guard
Nicole Hartzog (Beaverton, Ore./Beaverton) is sixth in steals (1.9 spg) and freshman guard
Kelly Logue (Fair Oaks, Calif./Bella Vista) is 15th in assists (2.5 apg) and assist-turnover ratio (1.1).
Seattle Pacific (Game Notes) at Alaska (Game Notes)
When: Thursday, Jan. 5 at 7 p.m.
Where: Fairbanks, Alaska (Patty Center)
Live Stats
Video: NMTVSports (Free Streaming)
About Seattle Pacific: Located in Seattle, Wash., Seattle Pacific University was founded in 1891 and has an enrollment of 4,000 students. The Falcons enter Thursday with a 9-3 overall record and 3-1 mark in conference play.
SPU scores 73.7 points per game while allowing 59.4 points through 12 games. As a team, it shoots 45-percent from the floor, while limiting its opponents to 37.3-percent shooting. The Falcons are dominant on the boards, averaging 42.2 boards per game while their opponents tally 31.6 per game.
Two players average double-figure scoring, led by
Katie Benson, who scores 16.4 points per game and
Rachel Murray, who tallies 11.0 points per game.
Nyesha Sims is the leading rebounder with 7.9 per outing.
Coach: Julie Heisey (Northwest Nazarene '89) is in her seventh season at the helm of the SPU women's basketball program and has amassed a record of 152-37 since being hired. She has advanced each of her Falcon teams to NCAA postseason play, including the 2009-10 squad that reached the Elite Eight. Her career record is 314-156 which includes her nine years at Trevecca Nazarene in Nashville.
Alaska (Game Notes) at Montana State-Billings
When: Saturday, January 7 at 3 p.m.
Where: Fairbanks, Alaska (Patty Center)
Live Stats
Video: NMTVSports (Free Streaming)
About Montana State-Billings: Located in Billings, Mont., Montana State University Billings was founded in 1927 and has an enrollment of 5,274 students. The Yellowjackets enter this week with a 10-5 overall record and 2-2 mark in the GNAC.
MSUB averages 67.9 points per game while allowing 58.8 points through 15 games this year. As a team, it shoots 37.7-percent from the floor, while allowing opponents to shoot 40.5-percent. The Yellowjackets hold the rebounding edge, tallying 39.2 rebounds per game as opposed to 37.0 for the opposition.
Two players score in double figures as
Bobbi Knudsen paces the MSUB offense with 16.6 points and 4.0 assists per game, while
Quinn Peoples scores 10.2 points per game.
Janiel Olson is the leading rebounder with 8.1 boards per outing.
Coach: Kevin Woodin (Carroll College '87) is in his eighth season at the helm of the MSUB women's basketball program. Entering this week, he is 125-86 during his tenure in Billings. He has led the Yellowjackets to two NCAA Tournament appearances since taking over in 2004.
