Aden, defense key road win over CWU

ELLENSBURG, Wash. ? Led by 13 points from sophomore Nikki Aden, the 6th-ranked Alaska Anchorage women's basketball team got back on track Thursday with a 70-35 victory over host Central Washington at Nicholson Pavilion.

The Seawolves (25-3, 12-2 GNAC) retook a half-game lead over idle Seattle Pacific in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings as they held the Wildcats to just 24 percent shooting and outrebounded them 45-25.

UAA, which had lost two straight, never trailed against the short-handed Wildcats (5-19, 2-11), who are down to just six regular players due to injury. The Seawolves were up 9-8 at the 13-minute mark of the first half when they got back-to-back jumpers from Aden and senior guard Elisha Harris to start a 20-4 run.

Aden, a 5-8 forward from Portland, Ore., shot 5 of 10 from the field and 3 of 4 from the free throw line to earn the highest point total of her GNAC career. Seven other Seawolves tallied at least six points as well, including nine apiece from seniors Jackie Thiel (3-5 3FG) and Rebecca Kielpinski (3-4 FG, 3-4 FT).

Aden also had a career-high-tying four steals, while junior guard Kiki Taylor had three of UAA's 13 swipes. The Seawolves showed off their depth with a 15-0 advantage in second-chance points and a 33-4 edge in bench scoring.

Forward Nicole Jordan led the Wildcats with 13 points, while Anchorage native Shaina Afoa had a game-high seven rebounds for the hosts.

The Seawolves ? ranked No. 3 in the latest West Region poll ? next face a showdown at regionally 5th-ranked Western Washington on Saturday. That game in Bellingham tips off at 6 p.m. AST.

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Players Mentioned

#54 Rebecca Kielpinski: C; 6' 2"; Sophomore

#25 Nikki Aden: G/F; 5' 8"; Freshman

#3 Elisha Harris: G; 5' 7"; Junior

#10 Kiki Taylor: G; 5' 5"; Junior

#11 Jackie Thiel: G; 5' 4"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#54 Rebecca Kielpinski
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: C

#25 Nikki Aden
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: G/F

#3 Elisha Harris
: 5' 7"; Junior
: G

#10 Kiki Taylor
: 5' 5"; Junior
: G

#11 Jackie Thiel
: 5' 4"; Senior
: G