FAIRBANKS – The Alaska Nanooks women's basketball team defeated the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves for the first time since January 2007. Alaska used a strong fourth quarter to pull away with a 61-56 win over the Seawolves.
Alaska came out with a strong first quarter, taking a 19-15 lead behind 7-14 shooting. They were able to hold UAA to 28.5% shooting on four made field goals. In the second, the Seawolves pulled the game even at 32-32 at halftime winning the second 17-13. Out the the break, the Seawolves grabbed a seven-point lead before Alaska posted a 17-5 advantage in the fourth to grab the five-point win. Nicole Pinckney started the scoring with a trio of free throws after a foul.
Kayla Johnson answered back with a three of her own, tying the game at 3-3 with 7:44 remaining in the first. UAA answered with back-to-back buckets, making it an early 8-3 deficit. After falling behind 10-9, the Nanooks grabbed the lead back at 12-10 on a
Destiny Reimers three. Alaska jumped ahead by seven at 19-12 before UAA knocked down a three with 29 second remaining, making it 19-15 after one.
To start the second, UAA tied it up at 19-19 before taking a two-point lead at the 8:07 mark. The Nanooks battled back to retake a five-point lead at the 3:44 mark on a
Kayla Johnson bucket but the Seawolves ended the half on a small run, scoring the final four points on a bucket followed by a steal and pair of free throws. Out of the locker room, UAA quickly grabbed the lead before Alaska connected from deep again on a Reimers three to take the lead at 37-34. Their lead grew to as many as six before Anchorage battled back to tie it at 44-44 at the 2:43 mark and eventually take the lead. Pinckney hit a jumper for UAA with four seconds remaining to extend their lead to seven after the third.
Their lead stood until the 5:52 mark when Reimers connected from deep, once again, tying it at 53-53 and starting the 'Nooks final push to the end. Reimers followed up with a fastbreak bucket, giving the 'Nooks a two-point lead. Down the stretch in the final two minutes,
Kayla Johnson and
Sam Tolliver connected on a free throws and
Paola Perez-Mendoza hit a floater off a spin move with 40 seconds left to give the 'Nooks the 61-56 win, their first since Jan. 27, 2007.
Reimers led the way for the Nanooks with 25 points on 10-17 shooting while grabbing five rebounds, dishing three assists, picking up two steals and blocking a shot. Tolliver ended the night with 11 points with a pair of threes.
The Nanooks are back in action at home on Thursday, Jan. 12 at 5:15 p.m. against Northwest Nazarene.
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.
