#6 Seawolf women outlast Vikings, 65-62

BELLINGHAM, Wash. ? Tamar Gruwell scored a career-high 16 points and seniors Rebecca Kielpinski and Jackie Thiel came through in the clutch Saturday to lift the nationally 6th-ranked Alaska Anchorage women's basketball team to a critical 65-62 victory over Western Washington at Carver Gymnasium.

Kielpinski had 15 points and eight rebounds for UAA (26-3, 13-2 GNAC), which can now clinch at least a share of its first-ever Great Northwest Athletic Conference title with a victory over Montana State Billings in its regular-season finale next Saturday.

Western Washington (17-8, 9-5) got 16 points from forward Jessica Summers and 10 points and 10 rebounds from senior Claire Pallansch as the Vikings suffered their second 3-point loss to the Seawolves in 17 days.

The game between the West Region's No. 3- and No. 5-ranked squads was predictably tight throughout, with WWU claiming the evening's biggest advantage at 44-37 with 14 minutes remaining.

Trailing 47-43, UAA would get back-to-back three-pointers from Gruwell (4-7 3FG, 2-2 FT) and Thiel (7 pts, 3 assists, 0 turnovers, 2 steals) to retake the lead. But that would only last until the 2-minute mark, when Summers sank a layup to put her team ahead 61-60.

After missed opportunities for both teams, UAA went to Kielpinski, and the two-time All-American delivered. The 6-2 center took a pass from Thiel with 42 seconds left and converted a traditional three-point play to make it 63-61.

On WWU's next possession, Pallansch grabbed an offensive rebound and was fouled by Kielpinski with 11 seconds showing, giving the Vikings a chance to tie. But Pallansch missed the first charity, and the home team was forced to foul Thiel with five seconds left.

UAA's top free-throw percentage shooter nailed both shots, and Vikings guard Amanda Dunbar missed her three-point attempt at the buzzer.

The Seawolves now hold a half-game lead over nationally 10th-ranked and regionally top-ranked Seattle Pacific in the GNAC race. The Falcons have two games remaining.

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Players Mentioned

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

#14 Tamar Gruwell: G; 5' 8"; Junior

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

Players Mentioned

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

#14 Tamar Gruwell
: 5' 8"; Junior
: G

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

Scoreboard

Players Mentioned

#54 Rebecca Kielpinski

#14 Tamar Gruwell

#11 Jackie Thiel

Players Mentioned

#54 Rebecca Kielpinski

#14 Tamar Gruwell

#11 Jackie Thiel