FAIRBANKS – Both the men's and women's basketball teams head to the lower 48 both looking to return to winning ways, as the men take on Simon Fraser and Western Washington and the women facing Central Washington and Northwest Nazarene.
Earlier this season, both teams swept their Great Northwest Athletic Conference foes in Fairbanks.
Men's Basketball
Date: Thursday, Jan. 29
Opponent: Simon Fraser
Live Stats/Watch Live: http://portal.stretchinternet.com/uaf/ or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yBM71_N5Vg
Date: Saturday, Jan. 31
Opponent: Western Washington
Live Stats/Watch Live: http://portal.stretchinternet.com/uaf/
The Nanooks are coming off of two tough losses to Central Washington and Northwest Nazarene. Despite a 15 point deficit with 10 minutes remaining in the second half, against NNU last Thursday, Alaska fought their way back to almost win the game after Adam Griffin rimmed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
On Saturday, Central Washington and Alaska fought an evenly pitched battle on the Patty Center court, but unfortunately it was the Wildcats who prevailed, 74-70, in a back-and-forth game.
Early in January, however, the Nanooks hosted both Simon Fraser and Western Washington, and earned sweeps of the Clan and Vikings, in two very different games.
Against Western Washington, Ashton Edwards scored a career-high 30 points, including 18 in the second half, to lead the Nanooks to a dramatic 64-60 win.
The game came down to the wire, as both Alaska and the Vikings traded blows throughout the entire game, but it was the Nanooks who prevailed, thanks to the clutch shooting of Edwards and key free-throws by Eric Fongue.
Alaska trailed 33-32 at the half, but hung tight in the second, as though Western Washington threatened to pull away, the Nanooks bore down defensively and made the baskets they had to keep themselves in the game.
In the high-octane game versus Simon Fraser Ruben Silvas scored 34 points to lead six Nanooks in double-figures as Alaska rolled to a 121-111 win.
Silvas, who was also the game's top rebounder with 11 points, went 8-11 from the field and hit 17-18 free-throws en route to his tally of 34.
Ashton Edwards followed up his career-day on Thursday with 23 points while Adam Griffin (14), Kyle Tomlinson (13), Almir Hadzisehovic (12) and Isaac Ladines (11) all had big offensive days.
Women's Basketball
Date: Thursday, Jan. 29
Opponent: Northwest Nazarene
Live Stats/Watch Live: http://portal.stretchinternet.com/uaf/
Date: Saturday, Jan. 31
Opponent: Central Washington
Live Stats/Watch Live: http://portal.stretchinternet.com/uaf/
Alaska has now lost three in a row after its six game winning streak was halted by Alaska Anchorage two Saturday's ago. Last weekend, the Nanooks lost to both Simon Fraser and Western Washington.
Against the Clan, Alaska trailed by just one point at half time, but could not overcome a 30 point night for Simon Fraser's Erin Chambers, as the Nanooks fell to the Clan 78-70. Benissa Bulaya scored 23 points to lead the Nanooks.
In the 75-64 loss to the Vikings of Western Washington, Benissa Bulaya was crucial for the Nanooks tonight, contributing 17 points total. The senior went 6-14 from the field and 5-6 in free-throws while she also dished out three assists. In three of the last five contests, Bulaya has put up over 17 points.
Following Bulaya in points was Stephanie Toumson, who totaled 15 points and had a career-high 14 rebounds. Also contributing for the Nanooks was Kaillee Skjold, Brianna Kirk and Cassi Willams, who each had nine points.
The win over Central Washington was also the Nanooks' first in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play this season and their third straight overall, following a pair of victories at the Seawolf Classic.
Stephanie Toumson led the Nanooks with 18 points and 10 rebounds, as the junior forward went 6-7 from the field, dished out an assist and led both teams with three blocks.
The Nanooks broke away from the Wildcats by scoring 39 points in the second half. In that half, Alaska dominated by shooting 58.3% (14-24) and made 10 of 16 free-throws (62.5%)
On the defensive end of the court, the Nanooks forced 18 turnovers against the Wildcats, grabbed 28 defensive boards and held their opponents to just 32.0% (8-25) shooting in the second half.
Against the Crusaders, Daron Mainville produced her best performance as a Nanook in her rookie season, as she scored 22 points and hauled in 10 rebounds to lead the Nanooks to a 82-76 win over Northwest Nazarene.
Arienesha Smith scored 15 points while Briana Kirk and Jordan Wilson each had 12 points for Alaska.
Northwest Nazarene edged Alaska in the first half, by a score of 36-29, though they had a ten point lead with 22 seconds to go. From that point on, however, it was all Nanooks, as they opened up a 16-0 run to take a 42-36 lead at the 16:47 mark of the second period.
For the rest of the game, though the Crusaders would threaten to recapture the lead, the Nanooks would never relinquish control of the game, pulling away in the final minutes with clutch free-throw shooting.
The Nanooks used a lethal blend of dominate inside play and stellar outside shooting, as they scored 32 points in the paint while hitting eight 3-pointers, a season-high.
