LA JOLLA, Calif. - Rebecca Kielpinski scored 13 points, including the game-winning basket with 41 seconds left, as the Alaska Anchorage women's basketball team advanced with a 49-48 first-round NCAA Tournament victory over Cal State Dominguez Hills at RIMAC Arena on Friday.
Freshman guard Keyona Brooks came off the bench with 12 points and senior Mari Callahan grabbed eight rebounds for the 4th-seeded Seawolves (23-5), who earned their third-ever NCAA victory.
The 5th-seeded Toros (16-11) were led by a game-high 16 points from reserve guard Unique Bennett, but the Los Angeles school came up just short when Aujanee Baldwin's three-pointer rimmed off at the buzzer.
UAA pulled off the victory despite falling into early holes of 11-0 and 19-8, and running into foul trouble with Kielpinski and fellow starter Jennifer Salazar.
The Toros, of Carson, Calif., came out loose to begin the game, knocking down 5 of 7 shots and forcing Seawolf coach Tim Moser to burn a pair of early timeouts. But the Seawolf defense clamped down, allowing their opponents only 29 percent shooting the rest of the way.
Meanwhile the Seawolves recovered from a 1-for-11 start and won despite making only 5-of-23 three-pointers on the night.
After scrapping back for a 26-26 halftime tie, UAA took its first lead of the game at 31-29 on a Jayci Stone three-pointer at the 18:26 mark. That would be the first of seven lead changes in the final 20 minutes as neither team led by more than four points.
That advantage went to the Seawolves at 47-43 when Callahan sank a pair of free throws with 3:51 remaining, but CSUDH had one more answer. The Toros quickly got a trey from Bennett and a jumper from Baldwin (10 pts, 5-10 FG) to take their final lead at 48-47 with 2 minutes to play.
After a pair of empty possessions for both teams, Moser called timeout with a minute left and set up a play for Kielpinski, who sat for seven minutes of the second half after picking up her fourth foul with over 12 minutes left. UAA executed to perfection as Brooks penetrated to the right of the lane and found the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Year for a layup through a pair of Toro defenders.
CSUDH's Michelle Kribell then threw the ball away with 36.5 seconds left, giving the Seawolves a chance to run down the shot clock before their last attempt. Kielpinski's jumper was blocked by Kribell at the 9-second mark, and the Toros – with no timeouts remaining – grabbed the rebound and raced downcourt.
The ball wound up in the hands of Baldwin – who hadn't made a three-pointer all season – and the Toro forward missed a 23-foot attempt that appeared on-line but caromed long. UAA senior Meghan Vaughan grabbed the rebound as the last second ticked off, setting off a Seawolf celebration.
The Seawolves' victory leaves them one short of the school record of 24, set in 1987-88.
Next up is a Saturday night West Region semifinal showdown, likely against top-seeded and No. 12-ranked UC San Diego. The host Tritons led 8th-seeded Western Washington 46-21 at halftime.
In Friday's early action, 3rd-seeded Seattle Pacific opened with a 69-60 win over Sonoma State and 2nd-seeded Chico State knocked off Cal State San Bernardino 63-50.
Saturday's winners will meet in Monday night's regional championship contest with one team advancing to the NCAA Div. II Elite 8, Mar. 21-24 in Kearney, Neb.
