ELLENSBURG, Wash – The Alaska Nanooks women's basketball team played on the road on Thursday Feb. 6 facing a solid 13-8, 8-5 GNAC Central Washington team. Unfortunately for the 'Nooks, Central got off to a very hot start and never looked back, and Alaska fell 69-91. Alaska is now 7-15, 2-11 GNAC.

The first quarter did not start clean with CWU getting off to a 0-8 start and maintaining their lead throughout. Despite trailing majority of the game, the Nanooks pulled within 10-16 with 2:28 left in the quarter. Jocelyn Gandara scored 10 of their first 12 first quarter points, keeping Alaska in the game going into the second 12-23.

The second quarter was not much better for the 'Nooks scoring 16 total points, with Sam Tolliver and Brittany Richards combining for 10 with five points each. Alaska's defense allowed another 27 points to the Wildcats. The first half was rough on both sides of the ball for Alaska, with their defense allowing 50 points and their offense shooting 18-35 from the field for a total of 28 first half points. Jocelyn Gandara kept them in the game with six rebounds and 14 points going 3-7 from the field and a perfect 8-8 from the stripe.

A glimmer of hope began in the third as Alaska was able to cut the lead down to 11 in the first three minutes then to nine points about halfway through the quarter. However, the Nanooks could not get any big runs going after that and entered the fourth still down 58-71. The 'Nooks went 9-17 from the field and 4-5 from three posting 30 total points in the third, but Central was able to put up 21 and maintain the lead. Jocelyn Gandara scored another 14 points supported by Sam Tolliver with eight to lead the team in scoring through three.

While the third quarter showed promise, the fourth quarter spelled trouble for Alaska as they shot 3-17 from the field and scored 11 points. The 'Nooks failed to score until 4:07 into the quarter on Jocelyn Gandara's 14^th consecutive free throw. Alaska allowed a game low 20 points in the quarter, but it still wasn't enough to complete the comeback.

Jocelyn Gandara was the Nanooks' leading scorer with 33, her second highest scoring-performance this season, and added nine rebounds and three assists. Sam Tolliver contributed 13 points, two rebounds and a block. As a team, Alaska finished the game shooting 19-65 from the field, 8-26 from three and a great 23-27 from the free throw line. The 'Nooks also reeled in 37 boards and only turned the ball over nine times.

Alaska will face a difficult opponent in Northwest Nazarene next in Nampa, Idaho on Saturday, Feb. 8 at 3:15 p.m. The Nighthawks of NNU are 3^rd in the GNAC with a conference record of 10-3 and an overall record of 16-5.

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.