LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. ? Senior All-American Rebecca Kielpinski started her final season with a vintage performance Friday to lead the Alaska Anchorage women's basketball team to a 53-39 victory over Columbus State at Disney's Division II East Coast Classic.
The Seawolves (1-0) were also sparked by junior forward Nicci Miller, who drained 4 of 6 three-pointers and finished with 14 points and seven rebounds in her UAA debut.
Kielpinski, a 6-2 center, showed why she is a national player-of-the-year candidate with 16 points, 14 rebounds, three assists and a pair of blocks. The Mandan, N.D., native shot 5 of 9 from the field and 6 of 7 from the free throw line.
Columbus State (0-1), coming off a 17-12 season, was led by 18 points from center Rosetta Hollis, who shot 7 of 16 from the field. The rest of the Cougars were held to just 10-of-50 marksmanship, while UAA dominated the boards 47-34.
The Seawolves ? ranked No. 5 in the preseason by Women's Division II Bulletin ? fell into an early 13-5 hole before sophomore Nikki Aden drained a three-pointer to start a 15-0 run.
UAA took a 23-19 lead into halftime but it was quickly tied when the Peach Belt Conference squad tallied the first two baskets of the second half. The Seawolves then heated up as Miller rattled in a three-pointer to being a 10-0 run, and the Georgians never got within seven the rest of the way.
Miller, a transfer from junior-college powerhouse Central Arizona, nailed all four of her triples in the second half.
Kielpinski's performance was her 42nd career double-double and put her over the 900-rebound mark (905), extending her school records.
Senior point guard Jackie Thiel came off the bench to play 30 minutes and dish a game-high six assists. A transfer from Division I Florida Gulf Coast, Thiel was also good on both of her three-point tries.
UAA returns to action at The Milk House on Saturday when it faces Bentley (Mass.) at 10:30 a.m. Alaska time. The Falcons were 79-64 losers to Lake Superior (Mich.) State in Friday's first game. UAA will play LSSU in the finale Sunday.
