FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The Alaska Nanooks women's basketball team fell 74-65 to the Gannon University Golden Knights in day two of the Mt. McKinley State Bank North Star Invitational at the Alaska Airlines Court on Friday afternoon. The loss drops Alaska's overall record to 3-2, while Gannon improves to 4-2 on the season.
A third quarter lapse by the Nanooks ultimately cost a tight, hard-fought game from both ends, as the Nanooks only scored six points in the third stanza to Gannon's 16. Alaska went 13-20 in the first, 23-16 in the second and 23-22 in the fourth quarter against their opponent.
As a team, Alaska shot 40 percent from the floor (24-for-60), 33.3 percent from three-point range (5-for-15) and 80 percent from the free throw line (12-for-15). The Nanooks also pulled down 10 offensive and 17 defensive boards to tally 27 rebounds against the Golden Knights, while also chipping in 10 assists and six steals. Both teams were littered with turnovers, as Alaska had 22 to Gannon's 24.
Three Alaska players tallied double-digit points on Friday, led by senior forward
Marian Wamsley. Wamsley put up 21 points against the Golden Knights, shooting 9-for-14 from the floor and 3-for-4 from the free throw line. The Valdez, Alaska native was only one rebound shy of a double-double with a team-best of nine, while also adding two assists and one steal in29 minutes on the floor.
Senior guard
Emily Evans also made a major impact on the Nanooks' offense on Friday, shooing 6-for-14 from the field, including 3-for-8 from beyond the arc, and 4-for-4 from the free throw line for 19 points.
Junior guard
Kylie Wallace shot 6-for-14 from the floor, including 1-for-1 from three-point range for 13 points. Wallace also pulled down five rebounds and added two assists and one steal.
Senior guard
Angela Murnion led her teammate sin assists, posting three on the day.
After two days of competition at the North Star Invitational, the University of Tampa is 1-0, Gannon is 1-1 and the Nanooks are 0-1. The 2018 Mt. McKinley State Bank North Star Invitational is set-up crossover-style, where there is no defined winner.
The Alaska Nanooks will take on the Tampa Spartans in the final day of the NSI, with tip-off at the Alaska Airlines Court set for 3pm AKST.
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.
