FAIRBANKS – The Alaska Nanooks women's basketball team (0-2, 0-0 GNAC) dropped its contest against The Master's (3-3, 0-0 GSAC) on Sunday afternoon to conclude the Mt. McKinley Bank North Star Invitational, falling by a final score of 104-72. Tamai Mancuso earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team after averaging 21 points over the two contests.
How it Happened
Emily Freeman got things going right away for the Nanooks, drawing a foul five seconds into the game to put her at the line. After knocking down a free throw, Pearle Green answered on the next possession with a layup to put the 'Nooks up 3-0 in the first 30 seconds of the contest. Freeman added a layup, which saw the Nanooks lead by five just over two minutes in. However, a 9-0 run by the Mustangs put the visitors up four. Tamai Mancuso and Chozen Horn-Young kept the Nanooks within striking distance, connecting on a layup and three, respectively, but TMU countered with another run, this time scoring 14 straight to increase the deficit to 15. Freeman ended the scoring drought with a three, and Mancuso closed the quarter by converting a three-point play, but the Nanooks trailed 25-16 at the end of one.
Green provided the offense for the Nanooks to start the second, hitting a two and a three in the opening minute. A Mancuso put-back and Genevieve Velasquez three cut the Mustangs' lead to six, but The Master's responded with an 11-0 run, making it a 43-26 game. Mancuso and Horn-Young hit a pair of threes to end the half, but the Nanooks still trailed 51-36 entering the break.
The Master's began the third by scoring the first nine points before a Green three ended the run. Freeman and Mancuso would also hit threes during the quarter, but the Nanooks found themselves in a 25-point hole entering the final 10 minutes of play. Mancuso continued to provide offense in the fourth for Alaska, scoring nine points in the period on three twos and a three, but it was not enough, as the Nanooks fell 104-72.
Inside the Numbers
- Tamai Mancuso led the Nanooks with 28 points on the afternoon, going 9-19 from the field and 3-9 from three while knocking down all seven free throw attempts.
- Pearle Green was the only other Nanook in double-digit points, posting 10 in the game. She shot 4-6 from the field and 2-3 from three.
- Emily Freeman posted nine points, two rebounds and two assists for the Nanooks.
- Alycia Shelley had a team-high five rebounds and scored six points.
- Marney Rees led the squad with three steals.
- The Nanooks shot 26-79 (32.9%) from the field, 11-36 (30.6%) from three and 9-11 (81.8%) from the free throw line.
- The Nanooks had the advantage off the bench, leading the Mustangs in bench points 46-28. They trailed TMU in points off turnovers (35-20), second chance points (24-13) and points in the paint (66-28).
What's Next
The 'Nooks are back in action next Friday with the first game of the Westminster Tournament in Salt Lake City. They face the hosts, Westminster University, on Friday, Nov. 21, at 11 a.m. AKST.
Follow the 'Nooks
IG - @NanooksWBB
X - @NanooksWBB
FB - Alaska Nanooks Women's Basketball
