BELLINGHAM, Wash. - The Alaska Nanooks women's basketball fell in their first game of their road-trip. The Western Washington Vikings defeated the Nanooks 72-55 in Bellingham, Wash. as the 'Nooks lose their winning-streak and drop to 4-16, 2-8 GNAC. 

With the win, No. 11/13 WWU improves to 17-3, 9-1 GNAC.

Despite a 10-0 WWU lead to start the game, the Nanooks battled back in the first and came back to trail only 20-15 after the opening 10 minutes. The two sides went toe-to-toe in the second and WWU took an eight-point lead into the halftime break. Alaska hung close with the nationally-ranked Vikings but Western outscored the Nanooks by nine to take the 15-point win in Carver Gymnasium. In the first, the Vikings went up 10-0 before the eight minute mark. After a Nanooks timeout, Alaska's offense found its footing and quickly pulled within four on six-straight points. Destiny Reimers led the way with four points of the six points. WWU answered back to pull ahead by seven but the Nanooks came back to within three, using an Emma Wass jumper and Kayla Johnson fastbreak bucket off of a Wass steal. Before the break, Western extended their lead to eight but Ellen Silva connected from three with eight seconds left to make it a 20-15 game. 

Out of the quarter break, the Nanooks pulled within three on another Wass jumper and Anna Nevison three-pointer. At the 4:09 mark in the second, Reimers hit a jumper to make it a one-point deficit at 28-27. That was as close as the 'Nooks would get, Western would end the first-half on a 10-3 run, taking their 38-30 lead into halftime. WWU opened the second half with an 8-0 run, extending their lead to 46-30. Despite the double-digit deficit, the Nanooks slowly chipped away and got themselves back in the game throughout the third. Emma Wass ended the drought with a free throw and then Emma McKenney struck. She made a layup before hitting a three to pull the Nanooks back to within a dozen. They would make it 11 on a Kayla Johnson jumper before Western's lead grew back to 13 after 30 minutes of play. Entering the fourth, Alaska was knocking down shots but WWU matched them until the 5:42 mark when they grew their lead to 14. The lead would reach as many as 22. Jayda Van Dyke scored the final bucket of the night, connecting from three for her second three-pointer of the night to make it a 72-55 final. 

Alaska was led by Emma McKenney who ended with 13 points, shooting 5-10 from the floor and adding a three. She grabbed two rebounds and added an assist. Destiny Reimers added 10 points, dishing six assists and grabbed four boards. Ellen Silva posted a game-high 11 rebounds, adding eight points, four assists and a steal. Kayla Johnson ended with a game-high three steals. 

The Nanooks are back in action on Saturday, Feb. 3 at Simon Fraser. Video will be available on the Simon Fraser Athletics YouTube page. 

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