FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The Alaska Nanooks women's basketball team was defeated at home, 68-65, by Central Washington University.
 
The Nanooks came out swinging, scoring 21 points in the first quarter on 9-21 shooting from the field. The team held a seven point, 21-14, lead at the end of the first quarter. The second quarter was much of the same, as the Wildcats tried to cut into the deficit but Alaska matched every run they mounted. At the half, the 'Nooks held an eight-point lead, 37-29, over Central Washington.
 
Alaska came out of the break in a slump and found themselves on the wrong end of a 17-7 run that lasted the entire third quarter. This run allowed the Wildcats to catchup and hold a five-point lead with 1:21 left in the third quarter. Sam Tolliver was fouled on a three-pointer and made all three free-throws. Central Washington held a two-point lead, 46-44, at the end of the third. The 'Nooks came ready to play in the fourth quarter, and after a clutch three-pointer by Sam Tolliver, the game was tied 50-50 at the 7:13 mark. Jocelyn Gandara caught fire in the fourth and matched every basket from the Wildcats with one of her own to keep the game tied. She hit a jumper with 1:10 left to give Alaska its first lead, 62-61, since midway through the third quarter. CWU scored again to retake the lead, and Gandara hit another jumper to put Alaska ahead, 64-63, with 37 seconds remaining in the game. This is where the Nanook's efforts would fall short as their opponents would regain the lead and hold on to it. The final score was, 68-65, in favor of Central Washington.
 
The Nanooks will be back on the home court Tuesday, Jan. 14, facing off against in-state rival Alaska Anchorage at 7 P.M. 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.