University of Alaska Fairbanks Athletics

FAIRBANKS, Alaska — Despite two straight losses and six in its last eight games, the Alaska women's basketball team is still having its best season in six years, with its most wins since 2007-08. Having overcome double-digit deficits in back-to-back games, the Nanooks will look to finish on the road this week at Simon Fraser and Western Washington.
 
The Nanooks (8-7, 2-5 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) came all the way back from being down 21-6 to take a lead against Alaska Anchorage on Saturday, and fought back from a 16-point deficit to also take the lead against Western Oregon on Jan. 11. Alaska dropped both decisions, results that may derive from the Nanooks having 23 or more turnovers in its last five games.
 
But despite struggles with ball-handling, Alaska has continued to dominate the glass, outrebounding its opponents in five straight games. The Nanooks come into the week as the second-best rebounding team in the GNAC with 42.5 rpg. They lead the GNAC in defensive rebounding with 27.9 defensive boards per game.
 
Freshman forward Jordan Wilson (Henderson, Colo./Business Administration) has averaged a double-double over her last six games with 19.0 ppg and 10.0 rpg. She has scored 20 or more points in four straight games and six this season. Wilson has tallied four double-doubles this season, including 22 points and a season-high 16 rebounds Saturday against Alaska Anchorage.
 
Junior guard Kelly Logue (Fair Oaks, Calif./Journalism) rebounded from a tough game against Western Oregon on Jan. 11 with a career performance Saturday. She scored a career-high 21 points and pulled down a season-best six rebounds after scoring zero points and turning the ball over four times in eight minutes of playing time versus Western Oregon.
 
Game #16: Alaska at Simon Fraser – Thursday, Jan. 23 at 6 p.m. (AKST)
The Clan (10-5, 4-3 GNAC) got back on the winning track Saturday with a 56-47 road win at Western Oregon. Simon Fraser is receiving votes in this week's WBCA/USA Today NCAA Division II Poll. The Clan is only one game back of a four-way tie for fourth-place in the GNAC.
 
Erin Chambers is the conference's leading scorer with 21.5 ppg. Only one other player averages in double figures for the Clan, with Katie Lowen scoring 12.3 ppg. Simon Fraser is outshooting its opponents 41.4 to 37.8 percent, though they have struggled at the free-throw line, shooting just 68.6 percent.
 
Game #17: Alaska at Western Washington – Saturday, Jan. 25 at 6 p.m. (AKST)
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The Vikings (9-6, 5-2 GNAC) are among four teams tied for first place in the GNAC entering the final week of the first half. The team has won four in a row. WWU is unbeaten at home this season with a 4-0 record (2-0 in GNAC).
 
Katie Colard (13.5 ppg) and Taylor Peacocke (11.2 ppg) are the only two WWU players averaging double-digit scoring. The Vikings are outshooting opponents with the best field goal percentage in the conference, 45.6 to 39.3 percent, and have the second-best scoring margin in the GNAC at +9.3. They are alos shooting a conference-best 38.2 percent from downtown while holding opponents to 31.3 percent.