FAIRBANKS – The Alaska Nanooks women's basketball team plays its final two games before the holiday break this week, taking on Azusa Pacific and Biola in a pair of road contests.

Thursday, Dec. 18
at Azusa Pacific | 4 p.m. AKST | Watch Here ($$) | Live Stats
Felix Event Center | Azusa, Calif.

Saturday, Dec. 20
at Biola | 1 p.m. AKST | Watch Here ($$) | Live Stats
Chase Gymnasium | La Mirada, Calif.

Last Time Out
The Nanooks last played on Dec. 4-6 against Western Oregon and Saint Martin's. They dropped both contests, falling 82-24 to WOU and 74-37 to SMU. Tamai Mancuso led the team with 15 points over the two games, while Ashlyn Waggoner posted a double-double vs. the Saints, scoring 10 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.

#NookNotes

• Tamai Mancuso leads the Nanooks in scoring this season, posting an average of 14.9 points per game. That puts her eighth in the GNAC. Additionally, her 29% three-point percentage ranks sixth in the conference, and her 2.5 three-pointers per game is fourth.
• Ashlyn Waggoner is the Nanooks' top rebounder, grabbing 5.5 boards per game. She has also blocked six shots this season, the most on the team.
• Alycia Shelley leads the team with 18 assists and ranks second in steals with 12.
• Genevieve Velasquez is pacing the squad with 14 steals this season.
• The Nanooks currently rank second in the GNAC in bench points per game, averaging 26.6. That mark ranks 49th in Division II.

Meet the Opponents
Azusa Pacific Cougars (4-4, 1-1 PacWest)
Head Coach: Dan Ploog (1st Season)

• Azusa Pacific has opened their season with a 4-4 record and is coming off a 67-53 loss to Concordia Irvine on Dec. 6. They play Chaminade on Wednesday, Dec. 17, before welcoming the Nanooks.
• They are led by senior guard Lauren Jones, who is averaging a team-high 11.3 points per game this season.
• The Cougars are one of the top shot-blocking teams in the nation, averaging five rejections per game. That mark leads the PacWest and ranks 17th in Division II. Sophomore forward Rachel Roderick's three blocks per game rank seventh in DII.

Biola Eagles (4-4, 2-2 PacWest)
Head Coach: Mike Simonson (2nd Season)

• Biola has dropped two straight entering the week, falling to Point Loma 61-47 and Westmont 68-49.
• Junior guard Laney Grider is their top scorer, averaging the second-most points per game in the PacWest at 15.8.
• The Eagles sit right behind APU in the shot-blocking department, averaging 4.3 per game. That ranks second in the PacWest and 33rd in DII.

What's Next
The 'Nooks return to action on New Year's Day, taking on Central Washington in a home GNAC contest. Tip-Off is set for 5:15 p.m. They then take on Northwest Nazarene on Saturday, Jan. 3,  at 1 p.m.

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