FAIRBANKS – Great Northwest Athletic Conference play returns to Alaska this weekend, as the men's and women's basketball teams each host a pair of conference foes over the New Year period.
The men's team, idle since a pair of games against Portland Bible before Christmas, hosts Western Washington and Simon Fraser while the women play host to Central Washington and Northwest Nazarene.
On New Year's Day, the women open the weekend with a 5:15 p.m. tip-off against Central Washington followed by the men at 7:30 p.m. against Western Washington. Saturday, the women host Saint Martin's at 1:00 p.m. with the men playing Simon Fraser at 3:15 p.m.
Men's Basketball
Alaska's men's team enters the New Year's weekend with a record of 3-7, having defeated NCCAA foe Portland Bible in a regular season game on December 19. Prior to that game, the Nanooks had dropped five straight games, dating back to a November 28 win over Notre Dame De Namur.
The Nanooks opened up GNAC play prior to the Seawolf Jamboree with tough loses to Western Oregon and Saint Martin's. Against the Wolves, Alaska led by 10 points at halftime, but struggled to influence the second game in the way it wanted to, as it fell 67-62.
In the win against Portland Bible, which was followed by a last-minute exhibition win over the Wildcats, the Nanooks utilized a strong second half to earn a 88-74 victory.
Alaska had five players in double-figures, as Kyle Tomlinson led all-scorers with 18 points. Alex Duncan and Ruben Silvas each had 13 points for the Nanooks, while Ashton Edwards contributed 11. Off the bench, Eric Fongue knocked in 12 and Almir Hadzisehovic had 10.
The Wildcats and Nanooks played out a tense first half, which included some sloppy basketball and both teams shooting under 50% from the field. The teams would trade baskets and the lead for most of the half, and the buzzer sounded with the score knotted at 34.
Tomlinson had an outstanding half with 14 points, while Portland Bible's Mozeek Waggener had 10 points to lead the Wildcats. However, Waggener picked up four fouls in the first half and would spend much of the rest of the game on the bench.
The Nanooks came out firing in the second half, and were rejuvenated further by back-to-back dunks by Silvas to take control of the game. Silvas, who was named the Ravn Alaska Nanook of the Game for his role in spring-boarding the Alaska performance in the second half, shot 5-of-5 from the field in the closing period and had 10 points. Griffin also had a strong second half, as he scored 11 of his 13 in the frame.
As a team, the Nanooks shot 59.5% in the second half, going 22-37 and made five three-pointers, including a pair from Edwards and Fongue.
Overall, the Nanooks also dominated the game inside, as they outscored the Wildcats 34-22 in the paint and outrebounded their opponents 44-31. Isaac Ladines was the game's joint-top rebounder with seven.
The Nanooks are led offensively by Ashton Edwards and Ruben Silvas, who have scored 12.5 and 11.2 points, respectively. Adam Griffin is third on the team with 9.5 points and is second on the team with 20 three-point field goals, while Edwards leads the team with 25.
At the boards, Silvas is the team's top rebounder with 5.6 per game, while Almir Hadzisehovic is second on the team with 4.4.
Western Washington enters the game with a 7-4 overall record, and a 1-0 conference record following a loss to Simon Fraser. Prior to the holidays, the Vikings split two tournament games with a win against Cal State San Bernardino and a loss to Tarleton State.
As a team, Western Washington is the second highest scoring offense in the conference with 88.5 points per game, while allowing 74.1 points per game. The Vikings also have the conference's top-rebounders as they grab 43.7 boards per game, led by Anye Turner who leads the conference with 8.4 per game.
Despite a 6-3 record and an 0-3 away record, Simon Fraser boasts the nation's top scoring offense, as the Clan scores a staggering 130 points per game. On two occasions this season, Simon Fraser has scored 160 points and has not scored under 90 points in nine games.
Unsurprisingly, the Clan has three individuals in the top-ten in the conference for scoring, as Sango Niang leads the way with 21.8 ppg. Rod Evens-Taylor (3rd/17.1) and Justin Cole (9th/15.1) have all had impressive scoring performances this season.
However, Simon Fraser allows 105.6 points per game and has only allowed less than 100 points in a game twice, including a 160-99 win over Northwest Indian College.
Women's Basketball
The Nanook women (8-4) had an impressive weekend prior to the winter break, as it earned wins over Pacific and Texas A&M-Kingsville at the Seawolf Classic. Individually, Jordan Wilson and Benissa Bulaya were named to the All-Tournament team for their performances.
In the game against Pacific, three players scored in double-digits and Bulaya was named the Player of the Game as the Alaska Nanook women came from behind to earn a dramatic 67-60 win.
Bulaya scored 16 points, including 12 in the second half, had three rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal to earn Player of the Game honors. Arinesha Smith also had 16 points, while Jordan Wilson put in 12 points.
Stephanie Toumson dominated inside for Alaska as she had nine points, all in the paint, and snagged a game-high 10 rebounds. Kelly Logue was the team's defensive standout, as she had four steals to go with her three rebounds. The Nanooks as a whole had eight points and forced 19 turnovers leading to 20 points.
Against Texas A&M-Kingsville, the Nanooks trailed by three at half, but were electric in the second as they earned a 75-60 win over the Javelinas. Jordan Wilson was outstanding for the Nanooks, as she scored 26 points, going 13-18 from the field and, hauling in six rebounds and dishing out three assists en route to an All-Tournament Team selection.
As a team, the Nanooks force 9.9 steals per game, a mark that's second in the conference, and force 20.4 turnovers a game, which is also second in the league.
Jordan Wilson leads the team, and is fifth in the conference, with 16.6 points per game while Kaillee Skjold is in the top-ten in the GNAC with 6.9 rebounds per game.
Central Washington (7-3, 2-0 GNAC) has won four of its last five games, including GNAC wins over Western Oregon and Saint Martin's. The Wildcats allow the second fewest points in the GNAC, at 56.1 points per game, but only average 10.3 offensive rebounds a game, the lowest mark in the conference, scoring the third lowest points at 63.9.
However, Courtney Johnson, who leads the team and is sixth in the league, averages 15.9 points per contest.
Northwest Nazarene sits at 3-8 overall and 1-1 in the league having split with Western Oregon (L) and Saint Martin's (W), and has lost four in a row.
Taylor Simmons leads NNU with 14.2 points a game, a mark that is the top-15 in the conference. Katie Swanson (7.1) and CoCo Gall (7.0) are in the top-ten for rebounding, as the team grabs 41.5 per game.
