BILLINGS, Mont. – The Alaska Nanooks women's basketball team got themselves in the GNAC win-column on Saturday, Jan. 29 with a 61-59 win over the Montana State Billings Yellow Jackets.
Alaska used a big first quarter to jump ahead 17-9 before holding off MSUB as the Yellow Jackets made a strong push back in the second, outscoring Alaska 18-13. Heading into the halftime break, Alaska was up 30-27. The Nanooks continued to fend off MSUB runs, staying within striking distance when MSUB took the lead in the third and eventually struck last for the win in the fourth.
In the opening-quarter, the Nanooks used a spread offensive attack to take a 17-9 lead. Six 'Nooks got in the scoring column as
Destiny Reimers led the bunch with four on 2-3 shooting. After grabbing their first lead of the night at 4-3 on an
Ellen Silva bucket, the Nanooks found their rhythm and used a 10-2 run to push ahead 14-7 with 1:15 remaining in the quarter.
Savannah Huerta capped off the Nanooks' first-quarter scoring with a three-pointer as Alaska took an eight-point lead into the second.
Out of the first break, the 'Nooks pushed their lead out to 10 on a Reimers layup,
Pearle Green layup and pair of Reimers free throws. They'd hover around a 10-point lead until the final two minutes when MSUB answered for a 7-2 run to end the half, pulling within three at 30-27. Green and Reimers led the scoring for the Nanooks at the break as they both tallied eight points. Green added two assists while Reimers had a game-high six rebounds at the break.
Their lead began to dwindle in the third as MSUB shot 35.3% from the floor and pulled within one at the 7:07 mark. The Nanooks settled the Yellow Jackets and responded with a small run, going ahead by six on another Reimers bucket.
Zosha Krupa hit a three with 2:59 left in the third, pushing their lead to a quarter-high eight points. Unfortunately, the Jackets made one last run, tying the game with 36 seconds left. The 42-42 score held heading into the final quarter. Into the final frame, the Jackets held an early lead. That grew into a six-point lead near the midway point of the fourth before Reimers scored four-straight to pull Alaska within two.
Olivia Kraska made the backend of a pair of free throws making it 56-55, MSUB heading into the final two minutes of play.
The Jackets held their final lead with 1:44 left before Kraska made a short-corner jumper to give the Nanooks a one-point lead. After tying it back up, MSUB was looking at a late-game possession. A missed shot with seven seconds left led to an outlet pass from Reimers as she found
Pearle Green down court for an easy layup with 2.9 seconds remaining. Billings had one more look but the potential game-tying shot was off the mark and the Nanooks grabbed their first GNAC win of the 2021-22 season.
Head coach
Jessie Craig was proud of her team's resiliency both on the season and in the game tonight, "We've been talking about discipline, toughness and pride. I think that tonight the girls came out and showed all three. Everyone did something good for us but I'm especially proud of
Destiny Reimers' determination on both ends of the floor."
In the end, it was a Reimers double-double that led the way for the Alaska Nanooks as the freshman posted 20 points and 11 rebounds while going 8-9 from the free-throw line and 6-11 from the field.
Olivia Kraska added 13 points and six boards. Green ended the night with 10 points, two assists and two rebounds.
The Nanooks turn around and face MSUB one more time, tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. in their rescheduled game following a postponement on Dec. 30, 2021. That game was postponed due to inclement weather that restricted Billings' ability to travel to Fairbanks.
For more information on the Alaska Nanooks women's basketball team, follow @NanooksWBB on Twitter, @NanookWBB on Instagram, or like the Alaska Nanooks Women's Basketball team page on Facebook.
