PORTLAND, Ore. – The Alaska Nanooks women's basketball team hit the road for their last two games of the season this week after a two game home series last week. The 'Nooks played tough on Thursday, Feb. 27 against 6-21, 5-14 GNAC Concordia University but fell short of the win, losing 48-63.
Alaska played a great first quarter to get them in the lead to start the game. After falling behind 0-4, the Nanooks went on a 9-0 run to take the lead 9-4. The 'Nooks maintained their lead through the rest of the quarter and finished leading 11-8.
Jocelyn Gandara led the way with five first quarter points, four rebounds, and a steal.
The Nanooks were able to keep their lead for much of the second quarter, but the Cavaliers kept it tight throughout with the largest lead being four. For the last six minutes of the half the score bounced between Alaska being up two and a tie game and they entered halftime tied 26-26.
Sam Tolliver scored five points for the 'Nooks in the second quarter and Gandara scored two, had four more rebounds, and two more steals. In the first half Alaska shot 7-29 from the field, 1-11 from three-point, and 11-11 from the foul line.
Both teams played well in the third quarter keeping the game within five points throughout. The Nanooks allowed Concordia a slight lead and finished the third quarter down 38-42.
Alanna Conwell and
Sam Tolliver had four points in the quarter and Conwell added two rebounds and a steal.
Kylie Wallace contributed two points, two rebounds and a steal in the quarter.
The final quarter got off to a decent start for Alaska scoring the first basket to pull within two. However, they went on a bad run and found themselves down nine. Conwell and Tolliver hit two big shots after consecutive defensive stops to pull the 'Nooks within five. Unfortunately, after that, the Nanooks went ice cold and fell behind by double digits. Alaska could not get back into a rhythm and lost the game 48-63. Wallace and Tolliver both scored four points in the fourth quarter and combined for three rebounds.
Tolliver finished as the Nanooks' leading scorer with 15 and added two assists.
Jocelyn Gandara had nine points, hauled in nine rebounds and stole the ball three times. Alaska finished the game shooting 14-64 from the field, 2-23 from beyond the arc, and 18-21 from the free throw line.
The 'Nooks play in their final game of the 2019-20 season on Saturday Feb. 29 at 1:00 pm against the 5-21, 2-17 GNAC Western Oregon Wolves in Monmouth, Ore.
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.
