Box Score Post-Game Press Conference
Photo Gallery
FAIRBANKS, Alaska - Simon Fraser scored the game's final seven points in the last 1:02 of regulation to hold off a late Alaska rally 72-64 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's basketball on Thursday night at the Patty Center.
Trailing 63-56 with less than four minutes to go, senior
Nicole Bozek (Mukilteo, Wash./Kamiak) drained a three from the top of arc to cut the deficit to four with 3:32 left. After
Chelsea Reist made one of two free throws, junior
Adrienne Beans (Mountain Village, Alaska/GILA) converted on a triple of her own to bring the Nanooks (6-18, 2-12 GNAC) to within two at 64-62 with 2:54 on the clock.
Reist was fouled on the ensuing possession and knocked down one of two again from the line to give the Clan (14-7, 9-4 GNAC) a 65-62 advantage, but Beans slashed to the hoop and made the layup to get the 'Nooks to within one point with 2:22 to go. A few possessions later with the score the same, Bozek had a three to give Alaska the lead but was off the mark.
After a pair of Simon Fraser free throws with 1:02 to play, the Nanooks turned the ball over and the Clan was able to sink three more free throws and make a layup at the buzzer for the seven-point victory.
Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe posted a double-double with game-highs of 31 points and 15 rebounds. She shot 14 of 23 from the field and brought down six offensive rebounds. Reist and
Kristina Collins also recorded double-figure scoring with 12 and 10 points respectively, while
Kia Van Laare contributed seven points and eight boards.
SFU shot 38-percent for the game and commanded the glass by a count of 48-37, including 21-12 on the offensive end. Despite turning the ball over 24 times, it forced Alaska into 26 and held a 23-15 advantage on points off turnovers.
Bozek paced the Nanooks offense with a team-high 15 points to go with nine rebounds. Junior
Taylor Altenburg (Elko, Nev./College of Southern Idaho) scored 13 points, while freshman
Nicole Hartzog (Beaverton, Ore./Beaverton) had 10 points and four steals.
As a team, Alaska shot nearly 42-percent from the floor, but struggled to get to the free throw line, converting on just nine of 15 attempts.
Alaska hosts Western Washington on Saturday at 3 p.m. in what will be the final home game of the regular season. The three Nanook seniors, Bozek
, Autumn Greene and
Jeni Gabriel, will be honored prior to tipoff.
