FAIRBANKS, Alaska -- Clutch plays from juniors Jaylee Mays and Jordan Wilson helped the Alaska Nanooks women's basketball team snap a 27-game losing streak to Seattle Pacific, as they duo's heroics gave the Nooks a 58-56 win over the Falcons on Saturday night.
Trailing 56-54 with eight seconds remaining, Mays drove down the lane and drew contact just as she released an underhand shot. Her shot found the bottom of the net, and pulled Alaska even with Seattle Pacific with just five seconds left in the game. The Hardesty, Oklahoma native drilled the and-one free throw and gave her team a one-point lead at 57-56.
SPU called a 30-second timeout after Mays' free throw, and with new NCAA rule, advanced the ball to their side of the court with five seconds remaining in the game. The Falcons got the ball to Courtney Hollander, who then drove down the lane and knocked over a planted Jordan Wilson to get called for an offensive foul. Alaska inbounded the ball to Wilson, who was immediately fouled, as she went to the line for two shots with one second left on the clock. The Henderson, Colorado native sank the first attempt to give her team a 58-56 advantage. Wilson came up short on her second attempt, but still crashed the board and grabbed the offensive carom as time expired, as the Nooks defeated the Falcons for the first time since the 2001-02 season.
"These are the games you love to watch on TV, but you really have a hard time coaching when you're in the moment," said head coach Cody Bench. "I'm so proud of our team's defensive resolve down the stretch. We had a lead, and SPU came back. But we were able to have a good offensive possession, followed by an amazing defensive possession, and you can't ask for any better down the stretch. I hope these girls remember this night for a long time."
Alaska's victory brings one of the program's longest losing streaks against an opponent to a halt. It had been 14 years since the Nanooks last defeated the Falcons. The Nooks won the first-ever Great Northwest Athletic Conference game between the two schools, as the Nooks captured a 75-71 overtime win in Fairbanks on Jan. 12, 2002. Since that meeting, SPU claimed victory over Alaska in each of the following 27 contests.
"It's really emotion for me as a coach to get this win," Bench expressed. "When I got here, we would lose to Seattle Pacific by 20 or 30 points. I think tonight is a stepping stone win for our program. This team has went through so much adversity this season, first with losing Stephanie Toumson, and then not being eligible for postseason. Credit these kids for not giving up. They've turned this program into what I always thought it could be."
Alaska had three players in double-digits on Saturday night, led by Wilson's 15-point performance. The 15-point effort extends Wilson's double-figure scoring streak to 18 games. Mays turned in a 14-point effort, which included the game-winning old-fashion 3-point play. The junior hit a game-high three 3-point field goals in the night, and added three assists with zero turnovers in 38 minutes of play. Fellow classmate Kaillee Skjold added 13 points, and grabbed a team-best seven rebounds.
Both teams shot an even 40 percent on Saturday. The Nanooks forced 19 SPU turnovers, which turned into 22 points for Alaska. Mays and Skjold tied for the team-lead in steals with two apiece.
The victory gives the Nanooks their fourth-straight home win, as they are now 9-11 overall and move to 4-6 in GNAC games. For SPU, they drop to 6-11 overall and 3-7 in league contests.
The Nanooks conclude their three-game home stand on Tuesday, as they take on instate rival, and No. 1-ranked, Alaska Anchorage. Tip-off from the Alaska Airlines Court is set for 7 p.m.
For more information on the Alaska Nanooks women's basketball team, follow @NanooksWBB on Twitter.
