SEATTLE -- The Alaska Nanooks women's basketball team takes to the road for the final time in the 2015-16 season, as travel to Seattle Pacific and Saint Martin's for a two-game Great Northwest Athletic Conference road trip. The Nooks will challenge the Falcons on Thursday and the Saints on Saturday. Both games are slated for a 6 p.m. AKT start.
The Nanooks have split each of their last two GNAC weekends, as they sport a 6-10 mark in conference play and an 11-15 overall record. SPU is tied for seventh in the league standings with Alaska, as they too are 6-10 through 16 GNAC games, while they bring a 9-14 overall mark coming into this week. For SMU, they are in the midst of a three-way tie for eighth in the GNAC, as they, Concordia and Western Oregon all boast of 3-13 record. The Saint's overall record this season is 5-18.
| Date & Time | Feb. 18 & 20, 2016 | 6 p.m. AKT |
| Opponents | Thursday: at Seattle Pacific
Saturday: at Saint Martin's |
| Location | Thursday: Brougham Pavilion
Saturday: Marcus Pavilion |
| Live Stream and Stats | Click Here |
| Social Media | Twitter | Facebook |
Where to Watch
Fans can catch all of this weekend's action on GNAC.tv. This is a free streaming service provided by Stretch Internet.
All-Time Series
Seattle Pacific: The Falcons hold a distinct 46-15 edge in the all-time series against the Nanooks. However, Alaska snapped a 26-game losing streak to SPU back on Jan. 23 with a 58-56 victory at the Alaska Airlines Court.
Saint Martin's: Saturday's game against the Saints will be the proverbial grudge match between the Nooks and SMU, as the all-time series is tied up at 15-15. The two teams have split their regular season matchup during the past three seasons, but Alaska will be looking for the season sweep of Saint Martin's after they defeated the Saints, 66-60, in Fairbanks on Jan. 21.
Last Time Out
The Alaska Nanooks women's basketball team rolled off 28 fourth-quarter points, but their comeback bid would fall just short, as they were handed a 78-74 defeat by Northwest Nazarene at the Alaska Airlines Court on Saturday night in the #Play4Kay Game.
Making the Most of Her Opportunity
It had been four games since Cassi Williams appeared in a game for Alaska, but last Saturday against Northwest Nazarene her number was called in the third quarter, and she turned in a career-best 15-point outing. Williams went 4-of-5 from behind the arc and spearheaded a late rally against the Crusaders. The four 3-point field goals also set a new career-best for Williams.
Time for a New Streak
Junior Jordan Wilson had her remarkable 23-game double-digit scoring streak come to an end last Saturday against Northwest Nazarene. Wilson registered just six points, marking the first time since the Nov. 14 game against Dixie State that the Henderson, Colorado native failed to score double figures in a game.
On a Roll
Junior Kaillee Skjold has recorded double-digit points in each of her last four games. She really took off last Thursday against Central Washington, as she tallied 25 points in the upset victory over the Wildcats. The Kasilof, Alaska native has averaged 18.0 points per game during the streak.
Getting Everyone Involved
The Nanooks enter this week as the second-best assist team in the GNAC, as they have passed out a total of 389 assists. That mark is the 27th-best in all of NCAA Division II. Junior Kaillee Skjold is the team's top assist getter with her 3.2 assist per game average. Senior Arinesha Smith is just behind Skjold's average, as the SeaTac, Washington native is handing out 3.0 helpers per game.
Making Field Goals
Making shots has not been a problem for junior Jordan Wilson this season. The 5-11 forward leads the league in field goals made, as she has connected on 179 shots this season. The 179 made field goals not only tops the GNAC, but it is the 11th-highest total in NCAA Division II. Wilson is third in the conference in scoring, as she is averaging an even 17.0 points per contest.
Scouting the Opposition – Seattle Pacific
The Falcons enter this week fresh off the heels of an overtime upset at Simon Fraser. SPU is just one game out of the final spot of the GNAC Championship with four games remaining, and have been playing like a team looking to secure a conference tournament berth by winning three of its last four games.
Seattle Pacific is averaging just 60.7 points per game and are shooting 37.5 percent from the field. Both marks rank eighth in the GNAC in their respective categories. Sophomore Courtney Hollander leads the team in scoring with her 12.6 points per game average. Jordan McPhee also averages double-digits with her 12.1 points per game.
Defensively, the Falcons are allowing 62.1 points per game. Teams are shooting 41.6 percent from the field against Seattle Pacific.
Scouting the Opposition – Saint Martin's
SMU looks to snap an 11-game losing streak this week, while they also look to break from a three-way tie with Western Oregon and Concordia. Saint Martin's last win came against Seattle Pacific on Jan. 5.
Krista Stabler leads the team in scoring with her 16.7 points per game average. That mark is fourth-best in the conference. As a team, SMU is averaging 58.0 points per game, while shooting 35.1 percent from the field.
On defense, the Saints are giving up 69.7 points per contest on a 42.2 percent field goal percentage.
For more information on the Alaska Nanooks women's basketball team, follow @NanooksWBB on Twitter or like Alaska Nanooks Women's Basketball on Facebook.
