FAIRBANKS - The Alaska Nanooks women's basketball fell to Northwest Nazarene in overtime on Thursday, Jan. 12. The 'Nooks overcame a slow start to force the extra period before NNU grabbed the 90-88 win. With the loss, the Nanooks fell to 4-9, 1-5 GNAC. 

NNU jumped out to a quick 21-9 lead at the end of the first quarter, but Alaska managed to pull within four at the halftime break with a 26-18 advantage in the second. Out of the break, NNU's lead grew to five heading into the fourth before the 'Nooks tied it at 78-78 to force the OT period. In OT, the teams traded runs with and ultimately it was NNU coming out on top. In the first, NNU jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead before Destiny Reimers got the 'Nooks on the board with a jumper. Northwest Nazarene quickly extended their lead to 15-4 and eventually held an 11-point lead at the end of the quarter. 

Sam Tolliver had a big second quarter, helping Alaska get back into the game. She knocked down a pair of free throws before Reimers hit a jumper making it 24-13 NNU. Tolliver followed up with a three at the 8:20 mark and another three at the 6:55 mark, making it an eight-point deficit. She came out and connected again a minute later making it 27-22. After pulling within four on a Kayla Johnson layup, NNU responded but Destiny Reimers hit the last shot of the half on a fastbreak, making it 39-35 at the break. In the third, the Nanooks made a strong push, crawling back to tie the game and eventually grab a one-point lead at the 3:50 mark on an Ellen Silva free throw to complete a three-point play. That was the only lead Alaska had in the third; they eventually tied it again at 56-56 but NNU grabbed the final five points of the quarter to take a 61-56 lead into the fourth. 

In the fourth the Nanooks quickly tied it at 63-63. An Emma McKenney three-pointer made it a 66-63 game, giving the Nanooks a late lead. They held the lead for about two and a half minutes before NNU tied it at 68-68. Their lead then grew to as much as six with 1:59 remaining but the Nighthawks tied it up at 74-74 with 1:03 left. Down the stretch, NNU took the lead back on a free throw by Clare Eubanks but Sam Tolliver hit a free throw with seven seconds remaining to tie it at 78-78 and force overtime. In the OT period, NNU scored the first six points, making it 86-80. Alaska battled back to tie it with six-straight points but after an 88-88 tie, Cami Knishka connected on a jumper to grab the 90-88 win, hitting the go-ahead bucket with only seconds remaining. 

McKenney led the Nanooks with 31 points. She was one of four Alaska players in double-digits. She ended the night 9-15 from the field, 5-11 from deep, 8-8 from the free-throw line and grabbed a rebound and steal. Sam Tolliver ended with 19 points, grabbed four rebounds, dished two assists and blocked a shot. Destiny Reimers ended with 14 and 13 rebounds for a double-double and Kayla Johnson had 10 points. 

The Nanooks are back in action on Saturday, Jan. 14 when Central Washington comes to town. 

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.