FAIRBANKS – The Alaska Nanooks women's basketball team officially kicks off its 2025-26 season this weekend with the North Star Invitational, presented by Mt. McKinley Bank. The invite will feature the Hawaii Hilo Vulcans and The Master's Mustangs, with one game per day Friday-Sunday.

Friday, Nov. 14
vs. Hawaii Hilo | 7 p.m.
Alaska Airlines Gymnasium at the Patty Center | Fairbanks

Saturday, Nov. 15
Hawaii Hilo vs. The Master's (neutral site) | 5 p.m.
Alaska Airlines Gymnasium at the Patty Center | Fairbanks

Sunday, Nov. 16
vs. The Master's | 3 p.m.
Alaska Airlines Gymnasium at the Patty Center | Fairbanks

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#NookNotes

• The Nanooks played in two preseason exhibition games in Oregon two weeks ago, taking on George Fox and Oregon State. They fell in both games, with Tamai Mancuso posting 31 points in the game against George Fox.
• Alaska is returning five players from last year's squad. Senior guard Emily Freeman, sophomore guard Grace Gillespie, junior guard Anna Nevison, redshirt junior center Amelia Brady and junior forward Halle Waram are back for another year in Fairbanks. They are joined by redshirt senior Pearle Green, who returns to the Nanooks after being on the team from 2021 to 2023.
• The remainder of the roster consists of seven transfers, four freshmen and one junior newcomer, bringing the squad to 18 players. Chozen Horn-Young, a 5-6 junior out of the College of San Mateo, Tamai Mancuso, a 5-5 senior out of Central State, Jada Pleasant, a 5-7 guard out of Hutchinson Community College, Genevieve Velasquez, a 5-10 junior out of Shasta College, Marney Rees, a 6-0 junior out of Central Maine Community College, Jazlynn Novelli, a 5-9 senior out of Cal State Maritime Academy and Nya Bostic, a 5-8 graduate student out of Florida A&M are the transfers for this season.
• Alycia Shelley, a 5-4 guard, Desiree Redfox, a 5-6 guard, Sophia Lachenmayer, a 5-8 guard and Ashlyn Waggoner, a 5-11 forward, make up the list of freshmen on the team. Alannis Rogers, a junior forward, is also set to make her debut for the Nanooks.
• Alaska will play 11 regular-season contests at the Patty Center this season while traveling for its remaining 15 games.
• The Nanooks are bringing in a new coaching staff for this upcoming season. Michael Ricks takes over as head coach of the Alaska Nanooks women's basketball program after leading successful turnarounds at Goucher College and Birmingham-Southern College. Joining his staff is assistant coach Chad Dyson, who comes to the Nanooks from Anchorage Christian Schools, where he served as head coach of their women's basketball team from 2015 to 2023. Rounding out the coaching staff is a familiar face, as former Nanook Destiny Reimers returns to the program as a graduate assistant.
• The 'Nooks were tabbed to finish tenth in the conference in the GNAC Preseason Coaches Poll, released on Tuesday, Oct. 14.

Meet the Opponents
Hawaii Hilo Vulcans (2024-25 Record: 8-18, 6-14 PacWest)
Head Coach: David Kaneshiro (16th Season)

• These are Hawaii Hilo's first games of its season. The Vulcans went 8-18 last season and finished with a 6-14 PacWest record.
• They finished last season winning four of their final six games.
• Their top returning scorer is sophomore KeanuMarie Huihui, who averaged 12 points in 26 games last season. She was also their leading shot blocker last season, blocking a team-high 23 shots in 2024-25.
• The 'Nooks hold a 4-4 record against the Vulcans since the 2009-10 season, with their last game coming on Nov. 11, 2017, in the North Star Crossover. The 'Nooks claimed a 56-50 victory in the contest.

The Master's Mustangs (2025-26 Record: 1-2, 0-0 GSAC)
Head Coach: Fonda Wilson (Second Season)

• The Mustangs enter the season as back-to-back defending GSAC Champions, claiming the conference title in 2023-24 and 2024-25.
• Last season, they defeated third-seeded Park University Gilbert 95-83 in the conference tournament semifinals, before taking down top-seeded Arizona Christian 72-66 in the title game. They fell to fifth-seeded Dakota Wesleyan in the opening round of the NAIA Tournament, 91-70.
• Junior center Alli VanKooten is their top returning scorer from last season, as she posted 10.6 points per game in 2024-25. She was also their second-leading rebounder, averaging 8.8 boards per game, and had a team-high 43 blocks.
• Currently, they are led by junior guard Chloe Auble, who is averaging 18.3 points through three games this season. Auble hails from Valdez, Alaska, and attended Anchorage Christian.
• They defeated California Lutheran 78-69 to open their season, but fell to Southern Oregon 61-58 and Oregon Tech 84-80 at the Raider Classic in Ashland, Ore. They play Stanton University on Thursday evening before heading up to Fairbanks.

TV Giveaway
The Nanooks will hold a 50" Hisense Smart TV giveaway during Friday's game against Hawaii Hilo! Fans can increase their chances of winning by attending the game, wearing Nanook blue and gold and following the women's basketball team on social media. Each of these actions will get you one ticket. The giveaway will be held during the fourth quarter of the game, and you must be present to win.

What's Next
The 'Nooks are on the road for the rest of 2025, beginning with a trip to Salt Lake City for the Westminster Tournament next weekend. They take on hosting Westminster on Friday at 11 a.m. AKST and Colorado Mesa on Saturday at 1 p.m. AKST.

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