SEATTLE - Kalhie Quinones scored 14 points and Maria Nilsson hit a three-pointer with 1:10 left, then came up with a game-clinching steal with seven seconds remaining as third-seeded Alaska Anchorage upset top-seed and No. 2 nationally ranked Seattle Pacific 50-44 Monday in the championship game of the NCAA Division II West Region women's basketball tournament at Brougham Pavilion.
The Seawolves (29-4), who had lost twice to SPU during the regular-season (58-55 at Seattle and 78-77 at Anchorage), now advance to their first ever Elite Eight beginning Wednesday, Mar. 26 in Kearney, Neb.
UAA, which is ranked ninth nationally, will play Franklin Pierce, N.H., the Northeast Regional champion in the quarterfinals. Franklin Pierce defeated Holy Names 88-71 in their regional championship game Monday.
SPU (29-1) trailed much of the second half after falling behind 26-21 at halftime as UAA closed the half with a 13-3 run. The Falcons took a 41-40 lead, however, with 5:03 left on two free throw by Jackie Hollands.
Neither team scored again until a layup by Ruby Williams gave UAA a 42-41 lead with 2:28 left.
The teams then traded missed three-pointers before a turnover gave UAA the ball back with 1:25 left. Nilsson then nailed a three-pointer to put the Seawolves up 45-41.
Seattle Pacific closed back to within two on a layup by Beth Christensen with 59 seconds left and then had a chance to tie it with 22 seconds remaining, but Libby Magnuson was only able to convert on one of two free throws.
Nilsson made one of two foul shots with 16 seconds left to give UAA a 46-44 lead and allow SPU one more chance to tie or take the lead.
But after a timeout, Chistensen's pass was intercepted by Nilsson and Kielpinski sank two clinching foul shots with 0.9 seconds left.
After another turnover on the inbounds pass, tournament MVP Quinones hit a layup at the buzzer for the final six-point margin.
Quionones was the only player in double figures in the championship game as the team's two defenses dominated. She made six of 10 shots and finished with 14 points. Center Rebecca Kielpinski had nine points, 12 rebounds, four assists, three blocks and a steal. The Great Northwest Athletic Conference co-Player of the Year also had three blocks to push her 3-year total to 177, breaking the UAA career record of 175 by Cheryl Bishop (1982-87).
The Seawolves, who outrebounded Seattle Pacific 43-31 and held the Falcons to 30 percent shooting (15 of 50), also got eight points and seven rebounds from Williams. UAA made 20 of 51 shots (39.2 percent). The Seawolves also held an advantage at the foul stripe, hitting 8 of 10 attempts (80%), while the Falcons were just 9-18 (50%).
Megan Hoisington had a game-high nine points for Seattle Pacific. Christensen finished with eight points, seven assists, five rebounds and two steals.
Joining Quinones on the all-tournament team were Kielpinski, Christensen, SPU's Daesha Henderson and Michelle Osier of UC San Diego.
UAA's win snapped an eight-game losing skid to the Falcons in Seattle, dating back to the 1999-2000 season. The victory also snapped SPU's 25-game home winning streak.
