FAIRBANKS – Jayci Stone set a school record with eight three-pointers, but the final outcome was a heartbreak for the Seawolf women Saturday as they dropped an 85-83 overtime decision to arch-rival Alaska Fairbanks at the Patty Center.
Post players Rebecca Kielpinski and Tenecia Lockard both posted double-doubles for the Seawolves (14-4, 3-4 GNAC), who failed to hold a six-point lead in the extra session. The Nanooks (7-11, 2-5) got 18 points and 12 rebounds from center Caitlyn Rohrbach and 17 points from guard Christina Bruketta.
The Seawolves battled back from down 41-24 late in the first half to grab the lead midway through the second half. UAA built a 69-61 lead with 4 minutes left, but UAF scrapped to within two and tied it with 10 seconds left on a putback by Rohrbach.
Stone (24 pts, 8-21 3FG) began the overtime with her final trey – breaking the record previously held by Allegra Stoetzel (1995) and Greta Fadness (1991) – and the Seawolves went up 77-71 on a Lockard layup with 2:27 showing.
But the Seawolves couldn't hit their free throws and Bruketta tied the game on a long three-pointer with 23 seconds left. Immediately, UAA point guard Keyona Brooks was called for a push-off on the inbounds play, and the Nanooks took an 83-82 lead on Sheena Brown's free throw.
Kielpinski was fouled with 10 seconds left and tied it with her first shot. However, the sophomore's second shot rolled off and she was called for a foul on the rebound, sending UAF freshman Sarah Herrin to the line.
Herrin missed the first but converted on the second, and the Seawolves missed their last chance when Callahan couldn't convert a lenghth-of-the-court drive.
Kielpinski finished with 16 points and 15 rebounds for her 24th career double-double, while Lockard had season-highs of 13 points and 12 boards. Stone's 24 points were the most for a Seawolf this year.
The Seawolves, now 0-4 in GNAC road games, return to the Wells Fargo Sports Complex to host Western Oregon (Feb. 1, 5:30 p.m.) and Saint Martin's (Feb. 3, 5 p.m.) this week.
