ST. GEORGE, Utah – The Alaska Nanook women's basketball team tips off the road portion of the 2014-15 regular season as it travels to partake in the Dixie Women's Basketball Thanksgiving Classic, hosted by Dixie State University.
The Nanooks will take on against Dixie State today, at 5:00 p.m. in a game that is not a part of the tournament, before facing Cal State San Marcos (Friday/12:30 p.m.) and Chico State (Saturday/10:00 a.m.).
Last weekend, Alaska opened up the campaign at home, with back-to-back wins over Chaminade and Holy Names. The Nanooks defeated the Silverswords on Friday by a score of 95-72 before dispatching Holy Names on Saturday, 94-48.
Against Chaminade, Autumn Childers and Jordan Wilson each had 18 points to lead the Nanooks, while Kailee Skjold contributed 17 and Victoria Ellerby had 11.
Childers also led the team with four assists and shot 3-5 from beyond the arc, also best among the Nanooks. Wilson and Skjold each posted double-doubles as they also had respective rebounding totals of 11 and 10.
In the game against Holy Names, Kaillee Skjold scored 22 points to lead all scorers. Skjold scored 18 points in a momentous first half en route to her game-high tally of 22. The sophomore went 8-11 from the field, including 3-5 from beyond the three-point arc and grabbed 10 boards to complete her double-double.
Stephanie Toumson also had a stupendous day for the Nanooks, as she scored 15 points and hauled in eight rebounds, including seven offensive boards.
OPPONENTS
Dixie State
The Red Storm have competed in three exhibitions entering today's game. They defeated the University of the Redlands, 80-62, on Nov. 1. They have also had two exhibition defeats at the hands of Claremont McKenna College (65-52) and Division I UNLV (100-67).
The top returner for the Red Storm is Kaylah Miller, who is this season's top returning scorer at 13.5 points per game last season, including 3.3 assists.
Cal State San Marcos
The Cougars' last event was an 82-42 exhibition loss to Division I University of San Diego. Prior to that, CSSM has started the season 1-2, after losses to La Verne and Hope International and a win at home against La Sierra.
Heather Thompson leads the Cougars in scoring so far this season, as she averages 14.3 points per game. She also contributes 9.0 rebounds per game.
Chico State
The Wildcats have played in just one competitive game this season, as they beat Dominican 68-54 as part of the Carl's Jr. Coslet Classic. They did lose a high-scoring affair to Division I Sacramento State in an exhibition, 135-95.
Hannah Womack led three Wildcats in double figures (against Dominican) knocking down five 3-pointers and scoring 14 of her game-high 17 points in the second half.
