HONOLULU – The Alaska Nanooks women's basketball team was unable to hold onto an 83-77 lead in the fourth quarter against the Hawai'i Pacific Sharks on Friday evening, falling to HPU 112-92 to move to 2-2, 0-0 GNAC on the season.
How it Happened
The Nanooks began the game at the free-throw line after a technical foul on HPU prior to the tip-off, and the 'Nooks received threes from Brandi Stanford and Oakley Homer to hold a one-point lead over HPU through the opening 2:30. A Stanford layup brought Alaska's lead to two, but 11 unanswered points by the Sharks put the hosts up 18-9. The Nanooks scored their final 12 points of the quarter from beyond the arc, with Homer and Siri Lindsey each knocking down a three and Addie Prisciandaro chipping in with two from deep, helping Alaska cut it to a 30-25 game entering the second quarter.
Stanford began the second by scoring seven of Alaska's first nine points, connecting on three layups and an and-one to cut the deficit to three. Three-pointers from MaKayla Figuereo, Khamryn Hopkins and Lindsey got the Nanooks to within one, but the 'Nooks could not take the lead. Lindsey tied things at 47 with a pair of free throws, and a Homer layup with six seconds left leveled it again at 51 as the Nanooks headed back to the locker room.
A jumper from Denae Skelton out of the break gave Alaska its first lead since 9-7, and she added a three after a pair of HPU baskets to put the Nanooks back in front, 56-55. Hopkins followed with a jumper, but a 9-2 Sharks run put Alaska behind 64-60 halfway through the period. HPU eventually extended their lead to nine with just over a minute left in the third after an Abbey Hadsell layup made it 73-64, but the Nanooks countered with four three-pointers in the final 1:09 of the quarter, three of coming from Skelton, including one to beat the buzzer to cut the deficit to one at 67-66.
The Nanooks began the fourth with seven unanswered points to take a six-point lead, with Mandi Pham connecting from downtown. However, Hawai'i Pacific countered by scoring its next 17 points without a Nanooks response. The Nanooks were outscored 35-16 in the fourth quarter and recorded just one field goal in the final frame.
Inside the Numbers
- Denae Skelton led the Nanooks with 16 points, going 6-11 from the field and 4-7 from three. She added three rebounds and a steal.
- Brandi Stanford posted 14 points while leading the team in rebounds (seven) and assists (five).
- Khamryn Hopkins and Addie Prisciandaro both had 13 points, while Hopkins added four assists.
- Siri Lindsey was the final Nanook to post double-digit points, scoring 11.
- The Nanooks shot 28-74 (37.8%) from the field, 15-39 (38.5%) from three and 21-29 (72.4%) from the free-throw line.
- Alaska was outrebounded 57-38, with HPU holding the advantage on the offensive glass 24-18. The Sharks scored 22 second-chance points to Alaska's 15.
- The Nanooks forced 19 HPU turnovers while committing 20. HPU led in points off turnovers, 26-23.
- The Sharks held the advantage in bench points 61-45, points in the paint 68-20 and fast break points 14-10.
What's Next
The Nanooks conclude their trip to Hawai'i on Saturday afternoon against Chaminade. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. AKST.
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