FAIRBANKS – The Nanooks women's basketball team heads back out on the road this week for two contests at Northwest Nazarene and Central Washington. They begin their road trip vs. the NNU Nighthawks on Thursday, Jan. 29, before traveling to Central Washington to take on the Wildcats on Saturday, Jan. 31.

Thursday, Jan. 29
at Northwest Nazarene | 5 p.m. AKST | Watch Here | Live Stats
Johnson Sports Center | Nampa, Idaho

Saturday, Jan. 31
at No. 9 Central Washington | 6 p.m. AKST | Watch Here | Live Stats
Nicholson Pavilion | Ellensburg, Wash.

Last Time Out
The Nanooks were at home last week for two games vs. the Montana State Billings Yellowjackets and Seattle Pacific Falcons. They fell to MSUB 86-45 on Thursday and to SPU 69-56 on Saturday. Pearle Green led the Nanooks in scoring in both contests, dropping 17 vs. the Yellowjackets and 22 vs. the Falcons.

In their game vs. the Yellowjackets, Alaska trailed 11-3 before going on a run to tie it at 19. MSUB would end the first quarter up 23-22, but a Tamai Mancuso buzzer-beater from beyond half-court made sure the Nanooks didn't trail by more. Mancuso would give the 'Nooks the lead on the other side of the break, hitting a jumper to put the Blue and Gold up by one, but the Yellowjackets responded by scoring 13 unanswered, and Alaska found itself down by 12. From there, Alaska could not get back into the game.

The 'Nooks fell short of a comeback attempt vs. the Falcons, trailing by as many as 22 in the first quarter but coming back to make it a three-point game in the third. However, they could not complete the comeback, eventually falling by 13.

#NookNotes

• Tamai Mancuso leads the Nanooks in scoring, averaging 12.6 points per game, ranking 12th in the GNAC.
• Pearle Green and Mancuso are knocking down an average of 1.8 and 1.76 threes per game, respectively, to put them sixth and ninth in the GNAC.
• Green's 34.2% three-point percentage is the highest mark on the team.
• Genevieve Velasquez and Marney Rees are each grabbing 4.5 rebounds per game, tying for the team lead. Velasquez also leads the team in steals with 21.
• Emily Freeman has dished out a team-high 36 assists this season for an average of 2.1 per game.
• Amelia Brady has been Alaska's primary rim protector this season, blocking a team-high 10 shots.
• The Nanooks are getting 23.1 bench points per game, the second-most in the GNAC.

Meet the Opponents
Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks (11-6, 6-3 GNAC)
Head Coach: Steve Steele (10th Season)

• The Nighthawks have won three straight and six of their last seven games, helping them climb up to third in the GNAC standings.
• Senior guard Trinidie Nichols is averaging a team-high 13.2 points per game on a 44.2% shooting percentage. She ranks second in the GNAC in steals per game (2.8) and 10th in assists per game (2.9).
• The Nighthawks have collected 12.5 steals per game and are forcing 21.4 turnovers per game, both of which lead the GNAC and rank 26th and 39th in Division II, respectively.

No. 9 Central Washington Wildcats (18-1, 9-0 GNAC)
Head Coach: Randi Richardson (9th Season)

• The Wildcats enter the week ranked ninth in the WBCA Division II Coaches poll. They have lost just once all season, falling to No. 19 Cal Poly Pomona 70-67 on Dec. 13.
• They have two players ranked top-10 in the GNAC in scoring, with senior guard Asher Cai leading the conference with 22.9 points per game (2nd in DII), and junior forward Capri Sims ranking seventh with 15.3 points per game. Cai ranks 23rd in the nation with 2.6 threes per game, while Sims' 60.6% field goal percentage puts her fifth in Division II.
• CWU has the fifth-best shooting percentage in the country at 47% and ranks third in DII with 18.4 assists per game.

GNAC Standings

1. Central Washington (18-1, 9-0 GNAC)
2. Western Washington (15-5, 7-2 GNAC)
3. Northwest Nazarene (11-6, 6-3 GNAC)
4. Saint Martin's (10-8, 6-3 GNAC)
5. Montana State Billings (12-10, 4-5 GNAC)
6. Western Oregon (9-8, 4-5 GNAC)
7. Alaska Anchorage (11-7, 3-6 GNAC)
8. Simon Fraser (8-12, 3-6 GNAC)
9. Seattle Pacific (6-12, 3-6 GNAC)
10. Alaska (0-17, 0-9 GNAC)

What's Next
The Nanooks return home for one contest next week, taking on in-state rivals Alaska Anchorage on Saturday, Feb. 7, at 1 p.m.

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