FAIRBANKS - The Alaska Nanooks women's basketball team sought a weekend sweep over the Multnomah Lions and got just that, beating the Lions 85-55. The Nanooks won behind a barrage of three-pointers, pouring in 14 made threes, shooting a scorching 46.7 percent from downtown.
Emma McKenney opened the scoring for both teams with two free throws. A quick 5-0 run by the Lions gave Multnomah its first lead against the Nanooks, 5-2. McKenney would not be stopped, going on a 5-0 run herself, scoring the 'Nooks first seven. The Lions would count to push, taking the lead, 10-9. McKenney continued to respond for the 'Nooks, hitting another three to give the 'Nooks a 12-10 lead.
Taylor Tiulana immediately stretched the lead, scoring nine straight for the Nanooks on three straight three-pointers, extending the lead to 21-10. A
Caitlin Pusich layup in the waning seconds of the first pushed the lead to 23-10.
Alaska's hot start continued in the second quarter, going on a 14-0 run over the first five minutes of action, pushing the lead to 37-13. Threes by McKenney, Pusich, and
Sam Tolliver continued the offensive onslaught by Alaska, taking a 46-24 lead to the half.
The three balls stopped falling in the third for Alaska, shooting 1-7 after opening the game 10-17 from three. The shooting slump saw Multnomah cut the lead to 15 late in the third, 58-43. This would be the closest the Lions would get.
Emma Wass and
Kayla Johnson closed out the scoring in the third for Alaska, taking a 62-45 lead to the fourth.
Coming out of the third, the Nanooks locked up on defense, holding the Lions to zero percent shooting from three in the fourth, and just 20 percent from the field. Alaska would outrebound the Lions, 19-3, in the quarter. Alaska used this defensive intensity to walk out with an 85-55 victory.
Emma McKenney led Alaska, who netted 22 points, including four threes.
Taylor Tiulana and
Sam Tolliver joined McKenney with double figures. Tiulana scored 19 of her own, including six three-pointers. She would add five rebounds as well. Tolliver dropped 12 of her own. The Nanooks out-rebounded the Lions 58-25, including 20 offensive rebounds by Alaska. Seven Nanooks finished with five rebounds or more, led by
Paola Perez-Mendoza with eight. Perez-Mendoza added four assists and two steals as well.
Jayda Van Dyke,
Destiny Reimers, Silva, Pusich and Wass would join Perez-Mendoza and Tiulana with five or more rebounds.
The Nanooks will return to action on Thursday, Dec. 29, at Simon Fraser, before facing off against Western Washington in Bellingham on Saturday, Dec. 31. Alaska will return home to face the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves on Jan. 7 at the Alaska Airlines Gymnasium at the Patty Center.
For more information on the Alaska Nanooks women's basketball team, follow @NanooksWBB on Instagram or Twitter, or like the Alaska Nanooks Women's Basketball team page on Facebook.
