FAIRBANKS - The Nanooks women's basketball team fell to the Simon Fraser Red Leafs on Saturday, Jan. 28. The loss dropped the Nanooks to 4-14, 1-10 GNAC. 

Alaska held a three-point lead after the first quarter and held on to a one-point lead after SFU outscored the 'Nooks 18-16 in the second. Out of the break, Simon Fraser posted a strong third, outscoring the Nanooks by 17 to take a large lead into the fourth. Alaska posted a strong fourth quarter behind 60% shooting and 57.1% from deep, but it was too late of a comeback as the Nanooks fell by six. Alaska's Destiny Reimers got the scoring started with a quick layup off the tip. The Nanooks hot start continued as they jumped ahead 7-0. Their lead grew to nine at 11-2 before SFU cut into the lead, getting to within four at the 3:47 mark. Alaska grew their lead back to nine before Simon Fraser cut it down to three to end the quarter. 

The 'Nooks maintained the lead in the second, stretching it back to seven behind a Sam Tolliver free throw and an Emma Wass layup. SFU came back to tie it at 35-35 with just under two minutes remaining in the first half before taking the lead. Wass hit a jumper with 18 seconds left, giving Alaska a 39-38 lead at the break. 

Out of the break Simon Fraser and Alaska traded leads before the Red Leafs made it a four-point game near the five-minute mark. Their lead quickly grew to 13 before reaching 16 to end the third. Alaska hit the ground running in the fourth, cutting the deficit to seven at the 6:20 mark on an Emma McKenney three. Kayla Johnson cut it back to seven before Jayda Van Dyke and Emma Wass connected on back-to-back possessions to pull the 'Nooks within three. That was as close as they would come, though. Simon Fraser pulled back ahead by eight before grabbing the six-point victory. 

Emma Wass had a strong game for the Nanooks, posting a team-high 15 points on 6-9 shooting. She grabbed six boards to go along her offense. Sam Tolliver added 12 points, going 7-8 from the free-throw line with five rebounds and four assists. Emma McKenney added 11. 

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.