Women's Basketball | 11/30/2016 1:20:00 PM
FAIRBANKS, Alaska – After going 1-2 in the Mt. McKinley Bank North Star Invitational last weekend, the Alaska Nanooks women's basketball team is ready for redemption. The Nanooks continue their three-week homestead by opening Great Northwest Athletic Conference play by hosting the Western Washington Vikings on Thursday, Dec. 1 before facing off against the Simon Fraser Clan on Saturday, Dec. 3. Both games are set to be played at the Alaska Airlines Court at 7pm AKST.
Alaska Projected Starters
#1 Victoria Milton (4.7 ppg, 5.0 apg)
#12 Jaylee Mays (12.6 ppg, .476 3FG%, 15 steals)
#22 Lexi Carpenter (.429 3FG%, 3.5 ppg)
#23 Jordan Wilson (23.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg, .938 FT%, .596 FG%)
#32 Kaillee Skjold (14.4 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 3.7 apg)
Last Time Out
Last weekend, the Nanooks hosted their annual Mt. McKinley State Bank North Star Invitational at the Alaska Airlines Court, featuring Metro State University of Denver, Newman University and Stanislaus State. In the opening day of the tournament, the Nooks fell 61-71 to Newman, before bouncing back the following day with a 73-71 dramatic comeback win over Stan State. On the final day, Alaska fell to MSU Denver 57-70 to go 1-2 throughout the three-day nonconference tournament.
Newman University was the only team to go 3-0 throughout the tournament, marking them the Champions, while there was a three-way tie for second place, which eventually went to MSU Denver after tie-breaker scenarios.
Wilson, Skjold Named to NSI All-Tournament Team
Senior forwards Jordan Wilson and Kaillee Skjold were named to the Mt. McKinley Bank North Star Invitational after their weekend performances. Wilson shot 27-of-47 from the floor to tally 72 points in the three-game stint, while also collecting 16 rebounds. The honor marks Wilson's second All-Tournament Team honor this season, after being selected to the Al Kaly Shrine Classic ATT in Pueblo, Colorado Nov. 18-19. Skjold racked up 45 points in the NSI last weekend, shooting 17-of-45. The Kasilof, Alaska native also registered an impressive 24 rebounds, eight assists and four steals in the three tournament games.
Wilson Stays Dominant
Senior forward Jordan Wilson remains one of the most elite players in NCAA Division II, as she ranks second in the GNAC and fourth in NCAA DII in scoring, averaging 23.3 points per game. Wilson also ranks in the top-10 in the conference in several other categories, including third in free throw percentage (.938, 45-of-48), sixth in field goal percentage (.596, 57-of-99), seventh in offensive rebounds (2.4 per game average) and ninth in total rebounding (6.1 per game average).
Skjold Chipping In
Fellow-senior forward Kaillee Skjold shouldn't be overshadowed by Wilson's play, as the Kasilof, Alaska native is having a season of her own. Skjold ranks first in the conference in total rebounding (9.4 per game average) and defensive rebounds (9.4 per game). Additionally, Skjold ranks seventh in the GNAC in scoring (14.4 ppg), 10th in assists (3.7 apg) and 15th in free throw percentage (.806, 29-0f-36).
Buckets for Mays
Senior guard Jaylee Mays has been having a season from behind the arc, as she ranks first in the conference and tied for 17th in NCAA DII in three-point field goals made, averaging 2.9 per game. Mays also ranks in the top-10 in the conference in three-point field goal percentage, sitting in eighth place with a .476 average (7-of-20). Furthermore, Mays ranks 12th in the GNAC in steals (2.1 spg), 13th in scoring (12.6 ppg) and 15th in field goal percentage (.519, 28-of-54).
Misc. Team
Alaska women's basketball currently leads the league in free throw percentage, shooting 126-of-146 for a .863 percentage. The Nooks also rank second in the conference in three-point field goal percentage with .383. Additionally, the Nook boast three players in the top-15 in conference scoring, three players in the top-15 in free throw percentage and have two players in the top-15 in conference rebounding, field goal percentage and steals.
Scouting the Opponent – Western Washington (5-1 overall, 0-0 GNAC)
The Vikings currently sit at 5-1 on the season, after defeating Notre Dame de Namur 77-64 and Holy Names 89-57 last weekend at the Lynda Goodrich Classic. Taylor Peacocke leads the Viking team, scoring 20-or-more points in WWU's six games this season and ranks first in the conference averaging 24.2 points per game. Jessica Valley has also been helping out on the Vikings' offense, averaging 9.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 3.0 steals per game last weekend at the Goodrich Classic.
Scouting the Opponent – Simon Fraser (8-1 overall, 0-0 GNAC)
After posting four wins in four games, the Clan has extended their winning-streak to eight games already this season, being honored as this week's GNAC/Red Lion Team of the Week. SFU defeated Dominican University 78-75 on Nov. 22 before beating the Academy of Art 76-51 on Nov. 23, followed by a weekend sweep of Cal Poly Pomona Nov. 25 and 26. Meg Wilson currently leads the Clan with 13.7 points per game average, along with 5.0 rebounds per game. Elisa Homer comes in a close second amongst her teammates, averaging 10.5 points per game.
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.
