FAIRBANKS - The Nanooks women's basketball team is set for their final two home games of the season this week with matchups against the Seattle Pacific Falcons and Montana State Billings Yellowjackets.
Thursday, Feb. 20
vs. Seattle Pacific | 5:15 p.m. | Girls and Women in Sports Day
Fairbanks | Alaska Airlines Gymnasium at the Patty Center
Saturday, Feb. 22
vs. Montana State Billings | 1 p.m. | Senior Day
Fairbanks | Alaska Airlines Gymnasium at the Patty Center
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Last Time Out
The Nanooks fell in both contests last week, dropping a tightly contested game against Simon Fraser 88-81 before coming up short against Western Washington 68-50.
The game against the Red Leafs saw 13 lead changes, 12 of which came in the second quarter. However, despite coming within one point of SFU on two occasions, the Nanooks never led in the final two quarters and fell by seven. Destiny Reimers led the way with 24 points, her fourth 20+ point game of the season. She went 10-21 from the floor and 4-9 from three while grabbing eight rebounds, dishing out five assists and collecting two steals. Miranda Lomax followed with 19 points on the evening, going 7-16 from the floor and 3-8 from beyond the arc. She tallied four rebounds and four assists and notched a steal. Amelia Brady posted a double-double, scoring 10 points and grabbing 11 rebounds while also picking up a block.
The Nanooks were tied or held the lead for most of the opening period against the Vikings but ultimately fell by double digits. This time, Lomax led the team in scoring, posting 12 points on 5-10 shooting. Jayda Van Dyke was the other Nanook to finish in double-figures in the game, scoring 11 points. She went 2-4 from deep and 5-6 from the line while grabbing four rebounds, dishing out two assists and notching a steal.
#NookNotes
- Destiny Reimers has been Alaska's primary scorer this season, averaging 14.2 points per game, which ranks eighth in the GNAC.
- She is also the 'Nooks top rebounder, grabbing an average of 6.14 boards. Her 4.8 defensive rebounds per game put her ninth in the GNAC.
- Taylor Pilot's 3.3 assists per game lead the squad and rank eighth in the conference. Meanwhile, her 2.57 steals per game are second-most in the GNAC.
- Emily Freeman paces the Nanooks and ranks eighth in the conference in three-pointers, converting two per game. She is knocking down her three-point attempts at the seventh-best clip in the GNAC (34.9%).
- Amelia Brady leads the team with 15 blocks.
- The Nanooks have been one of the top three-point shooting teams in the nation this season, attempting the 12th-most shots from beyond the arc in Division II with 26.1 and connecting on the 19th-most threes with 8.2. These marks rank first and second in the GNAC, respectively.
Meet the Opponents
Seattle Pacific (7-20, 1-13 GNAC)
Head Coach: Karen Byers (1st Season)
The Falcons picked up their first GNAC win last week, defeating Northwest Nazarene 93-70 last Thursday. That snapped a 10-game losing streak for SPU. They are led by senior guard Hunter Beirne, who is their top scorer (14 ppg) and assist-getter (3.8 apg). Those marks rank 10th and fifth in the GNAC. Her 43.5% field goal percentage is sixth-highest in the conference. The Nanooks earned a win against Seattle Pacific in their previous matchup by a final of 88-82.
Montana State Billings (23-4, 12-2 GNAC)
Head Coach: Kevin Woodin (21st Season)
The Yellowjackets sit second in the GNAC standings and are entering the week on a seven-game winning streak. They are allowing opponents to shoot at a 26.5% clip from beyond the arc, the lowest in the GNAC and 35th-lowest in Division II. MSUB is led by senior forward Dyauni Boyce, who averages the fourth-most points per game in the GNAC (15.6) on the seventh-best field goal percentage (41.1%). She also ranks in the top 10 in rebounds per game (6.6, ninth in GNAC) and three-pointers per game (1.96, ninth in GNAC).
Girls and Women in Sports Day
Thursday's contest against the Falcons is Girls and Women in Sports Day. Wear your favorite jersey and you're in FREE to tomorrow's game! Special thank you to Fairbanks Youth Sports for sponsoring our Girls & Women in Sports Day game!
Senior Day
The Nanooks will hold their senior day during Saturday's game against the Yellowjackets. They will honor Taylor Tiulana, Tristian Martin, Jayda Van Dyke, Bobbi Clark, Destiny Reimers and Taylor Pilot. Come out and celebrate our seniors as they play their final game in the Patty Center!
GNAC Standings
- Alaska Anchorage (22-3, 13-1 GNAC)
- Montana State Billings (23-4, 12-2 GNAC)
- Central Washington (18-6, 11-4 GNAC)
- Western Washington (15-9. 10-5 GNAC)
- Northwest Nazarene (14-10, 8-7 GNAC)
- Saint Martin's (14-8, 7-7 GNAC)
- Simon Fraser (12-12, 5-10 GNAC)
- Western Oregon (8-14, 4-10 GNAC)
- Alaska (6-16, 1-13 GNAC)
- Seattle Pacific (7-20, 1-13 GNAC)
What's Next
The Nanooks conclude their season next week by visiting Saint Martin's and Western Oregon. They face SMU on Thursday and end their season against WOU on Saturday.
Follow the 'Nooks
IG - @NanooksWBB
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FB - Alaska Nanooks Women's Basketball
