University of Alaska Fairbanks Athletics

FAIRBANKS, Alaska — Following a Great Northwest Athletic Conference weekend split, the Alaska women's basketball team closes out a three-game home stand Saturday with its first matchup of the year against rival Alaska Anchorage.
 
The game will be the first of a doubleheader with the men, who will face GNAC opponent Northwest Nazarene. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:15 p.m.
 
The Nanooks (8-6, 2-4 GNAC) toppled first place Saint Martin's Thursday, handing the Saints their first conference loss of the season and ending their six-game winning streak. Several comeback efforts fell short Saturday as Alaska lost to visiting Western Oregon 81-77.
 
Now the Seawolves (11-3, 4-2 GNAC) come to the Patty Center having won 12 in a row against the Nanooks dating back to 2007-08. Alaska's last win over their rivals came in overtime at the Patty Center on Jan. 27, 2007, 85-83.
 
It has been a one-sided affair for the last six seasons, with the Seawolves winning by 15 or more points in 11 consecutive matchups. So far this season Alaska Anchorage is averaging 86.9 points per game and holding opponents to 68.9, but it will be facing an Alaska team that is averaging more points per game than it has in 13 seasons at 70.8.
 
Freshman forward Jordan Wilson (Henderson, Colo./Business Administration) has been the team's leading scorer all season long. She is currently riding a streak of three straight games with 20 or more points and has scored in double figures in 12 of the Nanooks' 14 games this season. She averaged 21.5 points and 11.5 rebounds in Alaska's two GNAC games last week.
 
Freshman guard Victoria Milton (Lansing, Mich./Business Administration) has become an integral contributor off the bench. In Alaska's last four games, Milton has averaged 9.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game as a substitute. Her 3-pointer Saturday with 2 minutes, 19 seconds left against Western Oregon tied the game at 69-69 and got the Nanooks back in the game.
 
Senior forward Ruth O'Neal (Fort Washakie, Wyo./Justice) has also solidified her role off the bench for Alaska in the last four games. After averaging just 2.5 points and 2.5 rebounds through the season's first 10 games, she has posted 8.8 ppg and 5.0 rpg over the last four. It was her spinning layup Saturday against Western Oregon with 7:31 to play that tied the game at 57-57 and completed a 16-point comeback for the Nanooks.
 
Game #15: Alaska Anchorage at Alaska – Saturday, Jan. 18 at 5:15 p.m. (AKST)
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The Seawolves (11-3, 4-2 GNAC) flipped results with the Nanooks last week, beating Western Oregon but falling to Saint Martin's at home to earn a split. They enter the week in second place, a half-game ahead of three other GNAC teams in third.
 
Four players average in double-digit scoring for the Seawolves, led by Alli Madison's 15.3 ppg. Kylie Burns is the team's second-best scorer and rebounder at 13.6 ppg and 6.6 rpg. Keke Wright is UAA's top glass-minder with 6.8 boards per contest. Alaska Anchorage is the GNAC's top scoring offense (86.9 ppg) by 8.8 ppg, but are also only 0.9 ppg from being the conference's worst scoring defense (68.9 ppg allowed). The Seawolves also pull down the most rebounds per game, averaging 45.0.