FAIRBANKS - The Nanooks women's basketball team got in the win column with their first GNAC victory on Thursday, Jan. 25. With the win, the Nanooks are now 3-15, 1-7 GNAC.
Outside of the third quarter, the Nanooks won each quarter; they came out strong, jumping out to a first quarter lead at 17-11. They outscored SMU 22-14 in the second and took a 39-25 lead at the halftime break. Out of the break, SMU won the third, 13-7, pulling within eight at 46-38 but a big offensive fourth on both sides resulted in a 71-62 win for Alaska. The Nanooks outscored the Saints 25-24 in the fourth.
Alaska pounced early, running out to an 11-0.
Kayla Johnson got the scoring started before an
Ellen Silva layup and
Emma McKenney three-pointer made it 7-0.
Emma Wass got on the board and Johnson followed up with another bucket before Saint Martin's called their first timeout. SMU responded with five-straight before Alaska grew their lead back out to 10 on another Wass layup. SMU ended the first on a 4-0 run to pull within six. In the second, SMU pulled within four to start. The Nanooks stretched their lead to nine on a Wass three-pointer and they maintained their lead the rest of the half. They pulled their lead to 13 at the 3:43 mark on a McKenney jumper. Their lead would hit a first-half high of 14 to end the half as McKenney connected again.
In the third, the Nanooks made only two field goals while SMU posted four made field goals. The Saints outscored Alaska 13-7 and pulled within eight heading into the fourth. Both offenses posted big numbers in the fourth. 12 of the points came from the free-throw line for the Nanooks as they went 12-16. The Saints made eight field goals and five threes but the Nanooks went on to complete the victory 71-62, celebrating their first GNAC win of the season on their home-court.
Emma McKenney led the way offensively with 20 points. She went 6-14 from the floor and 3-7 from deep.
Kayla Johnson and
Emma Wass both posted double-doubles as Johnson had 16 points and 10 rebounds while Wass had 11 points and 15 rebounds.
Destiny Reimers also joined them in double-digits with 11 points and seven assists.
The Nanooks are back in action on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. They take on the Western Oregon Wolves and all the action can be found on the Alaska Nanooks YouTube.
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