FAIRBANKS – The Alaska Nanooks women's basketball team returns to Fairbanks this week for two games vs. the Montana State Billings Yellowjackets and Seattle Pacific Falcons. They take on the Yellowjackets on Thursday, Jan. 22, at 5:15 p.m., before concluding their two-game homestand on Saturday, Jan. 24, at noon vs. the Falcons.

Thursday, Jan. 22 - Canned Food Drive
vs. Montana State Billings | 5:15 p.m.
Alaska Airlines Gymnasium | Fairbanks

Saturday, Jan. 24 - Indigenous Appreciation
vs. Seattle Pacific | 12 p.m.
Alaska Airlines Gymnasium | Fairbanks

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Last Time Out
The Nanooks are coming off a road trip to Western Washington and Simon Fraser last week. On Thursday, Jan. 15, they fell 72-47 vs. the WWU Vikings, with Tamai Mancuso leading the way with 25 points on 9-14 shooting. The guard went 3-5 from downtown and made all four of her free throws. On Saturday, Jan. 17, they dropped a 109-46 decision at Simon Fraser. Pearle Green posted a team-high 24 points, going 7-16 from the field, 6-12 from three and 4-4 from the charity stripe.

#NookNotes

• Tamai Mancuso leads the Nanooks in scoring this season, posting an average of 12.9 points per game. That mark ranks 10th in the GNAC. She is knocking down 1.8 three-pointers per game, which is seventh in the conference.
• Genevieve Velasquez is grabbing 4.3 rebounds to pace the squad. Additionally, her 19 steals are the most by a Nanook.
• Emily Freeman has dished out the most assists on the team this season with 33.
• Amelia Brady leads Alaska with 10 blocked shots.
• The 'Nooks have scored the second-most bench points in the GNAC this season with an average of 23.3. That ranks 68th in Division II.

Meet the Opponents
Montana State Billings Yellowjackets (10-10, 2-5 GNAC)
Head Coach: Kevin Woodin (22nd Season)

• The Yellowjackets split their two games last week, defeating Northwest Nazarene 73-72 on Thursday, Jan. 15, and falling to No. 14 Central Washington 91-57 on Saturday, Jan. 17.
• Freshman forward Cassie Chesnut leads the team with 11.5 points per game. Her 230 total points scored rank ninth in the GNAC. She sits fifth in the conference in rebounds per game (7.8) and eighth in blocks per game (0.9).
• MSUB is grabbing the second-most offensive boards per game in the GNAC this season, averaging 13.4.

Seattle Pacific Falcons (4-12, 1-6 GNAC)
Head Coach: Karen Byers (2nd Season)

• The Falcons have dropped six of their last seven entering their game vs. the Nanooks, and are coming off two losses last week to No. 14 Central Washington (88-56) and Northwest Nazarene (72-62).
• Junior guard Layne Kearns is SPU's top scorer this season, leading the Falcons with 10.9 points per game. Her 86% free throw percentage ranks third in the conference.
• The Falcons are the top shot-blocking team in the GNAC, averaging 5.1 rejections per game. That mark ranks 10th in Division II. Junior forward Grace Leasure is responsible for 2.1 of those blocks, which is the best mark in the conference and 22nd in the nation.

GNAC Standings

1. Central Washington (16-1, 7-0 GNAC)
2. Saint Martin's (10-6, 6-1 GNAC)
3. Western Washington (14-5, 6-2 GNAC)
4. Northwest Nazarene (9-6, 4-3 GNAC)
5. Western Oregon (9-6, 4-3 GNAC)
6. Alaska Anchorage (11-5, 3-4 GNAC)
7. Simon Fraser (8-11, 3-5 GNAC)
8. Montana State Billings (10-10, 2-5 GNAC)
9. Seattle Pacific (4-12, 1-6 GNAC)
10. Alaska (0-15, 0-7 GNAC)

Canned Food Drive
Thursday's game against MSUB is Alaska's canned food drive. Fans who bring four canned food items for donation at the ticket office will get in FREE! All food will go to the Fairbanks Community Food Bank.

Indigenous Appreciation
Saturday's game vs. SPU is Alaska's Indigenous Appreciation game, where the Nanooks will debut their new Indigenous Appreciation jerseys and have a special halftime performance from the Troth Yeddha' Indigenous Dance Group.

What's Next
The Nanooks are back on the road next week, taking on Northwest Nazarene on Thursday, Jan. 29, at 5 p.m. AKST, and Central Washington on Saturday, Jan. 31, at 6 p.m. AKST.

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