FAIRBANKS, Alaska – Despite another 30-point performance from senior forward Jordan Wilson, the Alaska Nanooks weren't able to keep the Newman University Jets at bay, falling 71-61 in day one of the Mt. McKinley Bank North Star Invitational at the Alaska Airlines Court on Thursday afternoon. The Nooks drop their overall record to 3-2, while the Jets improve to 3-3 overall.
"I think Newman was just the better team today. They have a lot of senior leadership, like we do, but they executed today," assistant coach Brett Sawyer said following Thursday's game. "They played really physical and the physicality really bothered us a little bit with our half court execution. But overall, we just couldn't knock down shots when we needed to."
Although Wilson led all players with 30 points, the Thornton, Colorado native was the only Nanook to score double-digit figures, while Newman had four players with double-figures. Despite the loss, the game marks Wilson's third-straight 30-point game. Wilson went 13-of-19 from the field and 4-of-4 from the free throw line, while also collecting a team-high eight rebounds and one steal.
Freshman Lexi Carpenter shot 3-of-4 from the floor and 2-of-2 from behind the arc to follow up Wilson's lead with eight points. Senior Victoria Milton tallied five points on the day, while also posting the game-high in assists with nine and steals with four.
As a team, the Nooks only shot 38.7 percent from the floor (25-of-63), 20.0 percent from behind the arc (4-of-20) and 63.6 percent from the free throw line (7-of-11). Alaska collected 34 rebounds on the day, including 11 offensive camrons, while also chipping in 17 assists and 11 steals.
Additionally, Alaska recorded 26 points in the paint, 31 points off of Newman turnovers, 19 points from second chances and 22 points from their bench. The Nooks held at-most a four point lead over the Jets in the first quarter.
Newman was led by Bria DeGrate, who scored 20 points on the day, with Cierra Tjaden (14), Mali Wright (13) and Hannah Alexander (12) following closely behind. Tjaden led all players in rebounds with nine. The Jets shot 43.9 percent from the floor (29-of-66), 25 percent from behind the arc (3-of-12) and 52.6 percent from the free throw line (10-of-19).
The Mt.McKinley Bank North Star Invitational continues tomorrow, with MSU Denver taking on Newman at 1pm AKST, while the Nooks host Stanislaus State at 3pm AKST. All games will be held at the Alaska Airlines Court at the Patty Center.
For more information on the Alaska Nanooks women's basketball team, follow @NanooksWBB on Twitter or like the Alaska Nanooks Women's Basketball team page on Facebook.
