LACEY, Wash - The Nanooks women's hoops team won the middle two quarters, but it was not enough to erase a first-quarter deficit to Saint Martin's as the Saints grabbed a 71-61 win over Alaska.
SMU jumped out to a quick 27-16 lead after the first quarter thanks to a 58.8% clip from the floor and four made three-pointers. Paired with a 54% quarter for the Nanooks, the 11-point deficit was difficult to crawl out of for Alaska. That doesn't mean they didn't try their best to claw back into the game. Alaska came out in the second quarter and immediately pulled back to within single digits from an Emma McKenney three. At the 6:24 mark, an Ellen Silva layup made it a four-point lead for the Saints at only 29-25. The Saints ended the half on an eight-to-four run for a 37-29 lead into the second half.
Heading into the third, Alaska responded again, cutting the deficit to three by the 6:15 mark. A three from Destiny Reimers, two free throws from Emma Wass and a Silva layup cut the lead from 10 to three, 39-36. Despite SMU stringing together a run and making it an 11-point game, the 'Nooks hung around. Kayla Johnson connected on a layup with 1:58 left in the third, cutting it to nine before Silva made a layup to make it a seven-point game going into the final 10 minutes of play.
In the fourth, two Emma Wass layups cut the lead to three. SMU responded, but Alaska threw another punch, pulling to within two on an Anna Nevison three. After a defensive stop, Nevison came down and hit another three-pointer to give Alaska their first lead since early in the first. SMU responded with a 6-0 run before Johnson and Wass cut the Saints lead to just one with 2:52 on the clock, 62-61. Unfortunately, the 'Nooks would be held out the rest of the fourth and saw the free throw game stretch the Saints' lead to 71-61.
Three Nanooks finished in double figures. Emma Wass finished with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Ellen Silva added 12 points, six rebounds and two assists. Anna Nevison ended with 11 points, including three three-pointers.
Follow the 'Nooks
IG - @NanooksWBB
X - @NanooksWBB
FB - Alaska Nanooks Women's Basketball
