ANCHORAGE ? Junior Maria Nilsson scored a game-high 22 points and sophomore Rebecca Kielpinski added a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds as host Alaska Anchorage defeated UC Riverside 72-67 in the championship game of the women's 2006 Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout tonight at Sullivan Arena.

The Seawolves (4-0) pulled away from the Highlanders (1-4) by connecting on 7-of-10 free throws in the final 58 seconds of regulation to help seal the program's third overall shootout title.

UAA took a 56-46 lead on a pair of technical foul shots by senior Jaycee Stone with 6:08 remaining in the second half, before UCR would go on an 11-2 run to pull within one with 4:15 remaining. However UAA would never relinquish the lead, outscoring the Highlanders 9-5 the final 2:38.

The Seawolves took their largest lead of 12 points (41-29) just 2:20 into the second half.

UAA led 36-25 at the half aided by the hot shooting of Nilsson, who went a perfect 5-for-5 from the three-point line in the opening 20 minutes and finished 6 of 7.

Kielpinski, who scored 12 of her 18 points in the second half, was named the tournament's Most Oustanding Player, while Stone, who chipped in eight points and seven boards, was named to the all-tourament team. Kielpinski averaged 17.0 points and 12.5 rebounds in the Division II Seawolves' two tourney victories over Division I teams.

The Seawolves, who are now 25-45 all-time at the Shootout, return to action Dec. 1-2 against Fort Lewis and BYU-Hawaii at the Glacier Classic in Fairbanks.

2006 Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout

All-Tournament Team
Letricia Castillo, Air Force
Amber Cox, UC Riverside
Seyram Gbewonyo, UC Riverside
Ellen Hamilton, Butler
Jayci Stone, Alaska Anchorage

Most Outstanding Player: Rebecca Kielpinski, Alaska Anchorage