FAIRBANKS, Alaska - Jordan Wilson chipped in a game-high 20 points, including two game-clinching free throws down the stretch to help propel the Alaska Nanooks (12-12, 8-9 GNAC) to a huge 63-61 victory over Seattle Pacific (17-8, 9-8 GNAC) to keep the team's tournament hopes alive at the Patty Center on Thursday.
  
"It's just how bad you want it," senior Jordan Wilson replied when asked about sinking both free throws with 8.1 seconds to go, breaking the 61-61 tie. "For us (players) that have been here for four years we want to get to the GNAC Tournament. If it comes to making free throws in crunch time, then that's what I have to do."

Entering the night, Alaska was in a three-way tie for fifth place with Concordia and Northwest Nazarene. The Nanooks are looking to make the GNAC postseason as a top-six seed for the first time in program history. Concordia lost tonight in a contest against Central Washington, giving Alaska and Northwest Nazarene a one-game lead for the final two playoff spots. The wins by Alaska and NNU also pull them within a game of Seattle Pacific for fourth.  

Seattle Pacific had leads as large as seven points, but UAF was able to reel the Falcons back in each time during the first half. The Nanooks also entered the third and fourth quarter trailing.

The turning point manifested itself when the Nooks found themselves down 49-45 with 6:38 on the game clock. Lexi Carpenter, who made a game-high 4 three-pointers on 7 attempts, hit back-to-back threes to put Alaska in front for the remainder of the game.

Seattle Pacific led the Nanooks with an 18-12 turnover advantage, but defense continued Alaska's momentum. Jordan Wilson and Kaillee Skjold followed Carpenter's three-pointers with points off steals and turnovers, putting UAF out front 55-49.     

"We really rallied with the steals and it gave us a sense of energy," said Alaska head coach Cody Bench. "This makes us feel confident and know we are in the game."

Seattle Pacific showed its own resilience down the stretch. Jordan McPhee scored a team-high 18 points and collected a game-high nine rebounds for the Falcons. McPhee made the first free throw after being fouled with 32.7 seconds left. She missed the second free throw, but grabbed the offensive rebound and made two ensuing free throws a second later.

Up only 59-58, the Nanooks inbounded the ball up court before senior Victoria Milton was fouled and made two of her own free throws, with 28 seconds on the clock. SPU's Carly Rataushk answered with a game-tying three-point shot on the ensuing possession. Jordan Wilson then sank her go-ahead free throws and the Nanooks used one last defensive stop to win.

It was the first time the Nanooks swept the Falcons in a season series while in the GNAC. Seattle Pacific fell to Alaska, 72-59 in Washington on Jan. 21.    

"These games feel like playoff games we've been playing lately. We want to go out on a high note, especially these seniors," said coach Bench.

Seniors Autumn Childers, Gabriela Jimenez, Jaylee Mays, Victoria Milton, Kaillee Skjold and Jordan Wilson will have one last chance to perform in front of Nanook Nation and be honored on Saturday against Saint Martin's at 2 p.m. AKST for Senior Night.

For more information on the Alaska Nanooks women's basketball team, follow @NanooksWBB on Twitter or like the Alaska Nanooks Women's Basketball team on Facebook.