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Seawolves zoom past Yellowjackets, 85-63

Women's Basketball UAA Media Relations

Seawolves zoom past Yellowjackets, 85-63

ANCHORAGE – Junior Nikki Aden scored a career-high 20 points as the nationally 12th-ranked Alaska Anchorage women's basketball team used a swarming defense to post a 85-63 victory over Montana State Billings on Thursday at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex.

The Seawolves (12-2, 2-1 GNAC) also got 16 points from sophomore center Hanna Johansson and 14 points from senior guard Tamar Gruwell, while senior forward Nicci Miller delivered UAA's first double-double of the year with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

The Yellowjackets (8-5, 1-1) were led by 18 points and five blocks from center Kayla Ryan, but the visitors lost despite excellent shooting numbers of 47.6 percent from the field (20 of 42), 53.8 percent on three-pointers (7 of 13) and 89 percent at the free-throw line (16 of 18).

UAA, which shot just 38 percent from the field itself, pulled off the win by forcing 34 turnovers and posting 26 steals. The Seawolves also committed the fourth-fewest turnovers – eight – in school history.

The 26 steals and the eight turnovers were both season-bests by any GNAC team, while the 34 turnovers marked the second-most forced by a GNAC squad in 2009-10.

Tied 20-20 after 14 minutes, the Seawolves used back-to-back layups from Miller and senior guard Kiki Taylor to start a 7-0 run and take the lead for good. Taylor's layup just before the buzzer made it 39-30 at halftime, and UAA's full-court press forced nine turnovers in the first four minutes of the second half as the advantage stretched to 56-34.

Taylor was the sparkplug for UAA, grabbing eight steals and dishing a team-high six assists. Taylor's steals total was the most for a Seawolf under 4th-year head coach Tim Moser, while Gruwell added five swipes and junior guard Torle Nenbee had four.

Aden, meanwhile, tallied 10 points in each half, shooting 6 of 14 overall and 4 of 5 from three-point range. The Portland, Ore., native also grabbed six rebounds and dished five assists with only one turnover in 30 minutes.

Gruwell swished 4 of 8 from long range to move into seventh place on UAA's career three-pointers made list with 83.

Johansson came one point shy of her career scoring high, making 6 of 10 from the field, all four of her free throws, and swatting a career-best three shots.

The Seawolves have a week off before hosting Saint Martin's in another Great Northwest Athletic Conference contest on Thursday, Jan. 21 at 5:15 p.m. AST.
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Players Mentioned

Nikki Aden

#25 Nikki Aden

G/F
5' 8"
Freshman
Tamar Gruwell

#14 Tamar Gruwell

G
5' 8"
Junior
Hanna Johansson

#50 Hanna Johansson

F
6' 2"
Freshman
Nicci Miller

#0 Nicci Miller

F
5' 10"
Junior
Kiki Taylor

#10 Kiki Taylor

G
5' 5"
Junior
Torle Nenbee

#4 Torle Nenbee

G
5' 8"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Nikki Aden

#25 Nikki Aden

5' 8"
Freshman
G/F
Tamar Gruwell

#14 Tamar Gruwell

5' 8"
Junior
G
Hanna Johansson

#50 Hanna Johansson

6' 2"
Freshman
F
Nicci Miller

#0 Nicci Miller

5' 10"
Junior
F
Kiki Taylor

#10 Kiki Taylor

5' 5"
Junior
G
Torle Nenbee

#4 Torle Nenbee

5' 8"
Junior
G