COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Nanooks women's basketball team opened their season on the road at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. A tough third quarter played the difference as the 'Nooks fell to UCCS 72-60 to fall to 0-1, 0-0 GNAC to start the season.

After trailing by one at 16-15 aftert the first quarter, the Nanooks went into the locker room down 26-22 after being outscored 10-7 in the second. Out of the break, however, was the key separation for UCCS as they outscored Alaska 27-12. The Nanooks battled back and outscored UCCS 26-19 in the fourth to pull within a dozen, but in the end, UCCS grabbed the 72-60 win. In the first Kayla Johnson got the Nanooks scoring early 1:35 into the opening quarter. The two battled to a 5-5 tie at the 5:45 mark on an Ellen Silva free throw. After falling behind by five, the Nanooks battled back to a one-point deficit on a Caitlin Pusich fastbreak bucket, making it 16-15 with 37 seconds left on the clock. That score stuck into the second. The first seven minutes of the second saw UCCS open up their lead to seven, pulling ahead 24-17 on a pair of free throws. 

Silva connected on a jumper off a pass from Jayda Van Dyke and Taylor Tiulana connected from deep, pulling within two at 24-22, but that was all the Nanooks posted in the second, entering the half down 26-22. 

At the break, the Nanooks were led by Johnson with 10 points and seven rebounds. Five of those rebounds came on the offensive end. Destiny Reimers added four at the break and Silva and Tiulana posted three each. The second half started with UCCS jumping out to a nine point lead three minutes in. Alaska managed to pull back within six on a Paola Perez-Mendoza three-pointer, but Colorado Springs grew their lead to 19 to end the third quarter. The Nanooks shot 18.8% in the third, being out shot 54.5% to 18.8% and outscored by 15. The fourth showed the Nanooks scrappiness. At the 3:43 mark of the fourth, the 'Nooks pulled within 14 on a Johnson fastbreak bucket. A free throw from Johnson with just under two and a half minutes remaining made it an 11-point game at 67-56, but unfortunately, that was as close as Alaska got; they went on to pull within a dozen to end the game, falling 72-60. 

Johnson led the way posted the first double-double of her career in her first collegiate game. She put up 26 points on 11-23 shooting and 4-7 free throw shooting. She grabbed 13 rebounds, nine of which were on the offensive end. She also added two steals and one assist. Destiny reimers scored 13 points on 4-9 shooting, grabbing five rebounds, assisting on two and picking up a steal. Ellen Silva was the final Nanook in double-digits, posting 10 points. She nearly had a double-double with nine rebounds.

The Nanooks head to Pueblo, Colo. for the Al Kaly Classic and will play Friday and Saturday.

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