FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The Alaska Nanooks Women's Basketball team played at home on Thursday, Feb. 20 against the 17-7, 11-5 GNAC Western Washington Vikings. The game ended in a heartbreaking loss for Alaska's second to last home game 64-81.

The Nanooks got off to a slow start not scoring for the first four minutes and allowing 15 unanswered points to WWU. Alaska's first points came from Jocelyn Gandara sinking a pair of free throws to put the score to 2-15. The Nanooks didn't give up much more ground after that, but the Vikings did not either. Jocelyn Gandara scored 12 points in the first quarter and grabbed four total rebounds. Sabrina Ungaro and Zosha Krupa each scored two points of their own to put the 'Nooks into the second quarter down 16-27.

The Nanooks struck first in the second quarter on a Gandara jumper cutting the lead to nine. Alaska was able to keep it close in the first 6 minutes or so, cutting the WWU lead to eight at one point, but hit a cold spell and went into halftime down 31-47. Gandara scored four more points to her total of 16 for the half, with 5 rebounds and an assist. The 'Nooks shot 9-32 from the field, 1-6 from the three-point line and 12-17 from the foul line in the first half.

Alaska started the third quarter in a big way, scoring eight unanswered points and cutting the deficit to eight. The 'Nooks stayed persistent and were able to bring the game within six but Western kept their lead with some big shots of their own and the Nanooks ended the third quarter down 52-62. Sam Tolliver caught fire, hitting three three-pointers and a free throw for 10 points in the third quarter and Brittany Richards added five of her own.

Alaska lost their spark in the fourth quarter and could not seem to get enough momentum to get anything started only scoring 12 points in the quarter. The Nanooks played tough and hustled, but just couldn't score enough in the final quarter to mount a comeback and lost 64-81. Gandara added seven points and two more rebounds in her efforts.

The 'Nooks shot 20-60 from the field, 5-12 from beyond the arc and 19-30 from the free throw line with 30 team rebounds and eight assists. Gandara was the leading scorer and rebounder for the Nanooks scoring 25 points and grabbing 12 boards. Sam Tolliver added 15 points and Sabrina Ungaro had half of the teams assists with four.

The Nanooks are now 7-19, 2-15 GNAC and still 10^th in the conference. Alaska's next game and last home appearance of the season comes on Saturday, Feb. 22 against Simon Fraser University at 5:15 p.m. at the Patty Center.

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.