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Game Notes – vs. Central Washington
Game Notes – vs. Northwest Nazarene
FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The Alaska women's basketball returns home this week as it hosts Great Northwest Athletic Conference foes Central Washington and Northwest Nazarene at the Patty Center.
The Nanooks (2-11, 0-5 GNAC) first take the court against the Wildcats (6-7, 1-4 GNAC) Thursday at 7 p.m., followed by the Crusaders (11-2, 3-2 GNAC) Saturday at 5:15 p.m.
Last week, Alaska dropped both road contests as it lost 82-71 at Seattle Pacific before falling 73-67 at Montana State Billings. The Nanooks had balanced scoring as all five starters averaged between 10.0 and 12.5 points per game. Junior forward
Jacqueline Lovato scored a career-high 19 points after draining five treys on Thursday and averaged 9.5 rebounds on the week while junior guard
April Fultz averaged 12.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per outing.
Entering the week, three players rank in the top 10 in select GNAC categories. Sophomore guard
Benissa Bulaya is fifth in steals (2.5 spg) and ninth in assists (2.8 apg), Lovato is tied for eighth in three pointers per game (1.8) and senior guard
Taylor Altenburg is eighth in blocks (0.8 bpg)
The Nanooks average 66.2 points per game while allowing 75.7 points to their opponents. Alaska leads the league with 11.9 steals per game while placing second with 15.8 offensive rebounds per contest.
Game 14: Alaska vs. Central Washington – Jan. 17 at 7 p.m.
Important Links:
LIVE STATS LIVE VIDEO
Central Washington enters the week 6-7 overall with a 1-4 mark in GNAC play following a home split. After falling 62-56 to Saint Martin's, the Wildcats rebounding for their first league win, a 60-49 victory against Western Oregon.
CWU scores 65.5 points per game but is third in scoring defense, allowing just 60.2 points to its opponents. It is second with 8.8 three pointers per game (114 in 13 games) while also ranking third with 4.2 blocks per game.
Ally Schmitt is the GNAC's third-leading assister (5.8 apg) while also placing fifth in free throw percentage (.868) and seventh in steals (2.3 spg).
Jessica VanDyke leads the conference with 2.7 treys per game while
Jasmine Parker is also tops in blocked shots (2.2 bpg).
Leslie Stillar is eighth in three pointers made (1.8) while
Hanna Shine ranks ninth in three point percentage (.375).
Game 15: Alaska vs. Northwest Nazarene – Jan. 19 at 5:15 p.m.
Important Links:
LIVE STATS LIVE AUDIO LIVE VIDEO
Northwest Nazarene begins the Alaska road trip with an 11-2 record on the year and 3-2 in league action following a home sweep of Western Oregon and Saint Martin's. It first won 78-59 versus WOU before downing SMU 86-69.
NNU is the GNAC's top scoring team with 74.9 points per game while limiting opponents to 61.9 points per outing. It is second in both scoring margin (+13.0 ppg) and rebounding margin (+7.7 rpg) while also ranking third in free throw percentage (.769) and turnover margin (+3.77).
Megan Hingston leads the GNAC with 18.3 points and fourth with 8.2 rebounds while
Chelsie Luke is fourth with 15.8 points per contest and leads the league in free throw percentage (.967).
Heather Adams is second in three-point percentage (.447) and
Taylor Simmons is tied for third in steals (2.6 spg).
