ANCHORAGE - Led by a 17-point, 13-rebound showing from junior center Rebecca Kielpinski, 5th-ranked Alaska Anchorage cruised to a 94-58 women's basketball victory over Mesa State on Saturday in the final game of the Glacier Classic at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex.
Senior Maria Nilsson and junior Dasha Basova combined for 33 points on eight three-pointers to help the Seawolves (6-0) improve their school-record home winning streak to 22 games. Nilsson was named the Classic's Most Outstanding Player and was joined by Kielpinski and Basova on the All-Classic Team.
The Mavericks (1-5) were led by 17 points and six rebounds from All-Classic selection Kelsie Gourdin, while Jocelyn Zarling scored 13 points off the bench for the visitors from Grand Junction, Colo. MSC guard Brittany Fowler, the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Preseason Player of the Year, was held to just four points (1-3 FG) and no assists.
Starting guard Kalhie Quinones tallied nine points, five rebounds and four assists for UAA, which improved to 17-0 in November and December under second-year head coach Tim Moser. Ruby Williams and Elisha Harris scored eight points apiece in the win.
Leading 7-6 early on, the Seawolves got a pair of three-pointers from Nilsson (16 pts, 5-8 FG, 4-7 3FG, 3 assists) to spark a 24-4 run. A three-pointer by Basova with 3:38 remaining in the first half made it 45-24 and UAA led by at least 20 the rest of the way.
Kielpinski (17 points, 13 rebounds, 4 blocks) earned her 31st career double-double in just 20 minutes, highlighted by the All-American's first three-pointer since her freshman season.
UAA committed a season-low 11 turnovers and shot 49.3 percent from the field. The Seawolves hit 13 of 28 three-point tries, coming one short of the school record for treys made in a game.
The Seawolves return to action Monday at 7 p.m. when they host Chaminade (0-2) in a non-conference affair.
In Saturday's early Classic game, Alaska Fairbanks (3-1) broke open a close game midway through the first half and coasted to a 76-45 win over Chaminade. Senior guard Kari Reabold had 10 points and seven rebounds to earn Player of the Game honors, while All-Classic picks Cristina Bruketta (9 pts, 3 assists, 3 steals) and Sarah Herrin (6 pts, 5 rebounds, 3 assists) also made contributions.
Guard Felicia Alves led CU with 14 points and five rebounds in the loss.
2007 Glacier Classic
All-Tournament Team
Dasha Basova, Alaska Anchorage
Cristina Bruketta, Alaska Fairbanks
Kelsie Gourdin, Mesa State
Sarah Herrin, Alaska Fairbanks
Rebecca Kielpinski, Alaska Anchorage
Most Outstanding Player: Maria Nilsson, Alaska Anchorage
