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Seawolf comeback clips Crusaders, 66-65

Women's Basketball UAA Media Relations

Seawolf comeback clips Crusaders, 66-65

NAMPA, Idaho – Hanna Johansson scored 14 points, including a pair of free throws with 4.3 seconds remaining, to lift the nationally 13th-ranked Alaska Anchorage women's basketball team to a 66-65 victory over Northwest Nazarene at the Johnson Sports Center on Saturday.

The Seawolves (15-3, 5-2 GNAC) were led by 21 points from senior guard Tamar Gruwell as the Seawolves earned a comeback victory in a battle between team ranked in the top six of the NCAA Div. II West Region.

The Crusaders (14-4, 4-3) got a 21-point effort from guard Lindsay Brady and 18 points from reserve guard Kat Shulte to Buhne, who combined to shoot 14 of 23 from the field, including 8 of 13 from three-point range.

But it was UAA's hot shooting and pressure defense that helped the Seawolves set a program record for their largest-ever halftime comeback on the road, rallying from down 33-22. The Crusaders took a 39-27 with 18:37 remaining when UAA found its stride.

Junior guard Kaitlin McBride started the blitz with an old-fashioned three-point play, and Nikki Aden drained two three-pointers in the next two minutes to pull within 40-38. Gruwell – who shot 8 of 13 overall and 5 of 10 on treys – then sank a long bomb to give the Seawolves the lead.

NNU would go ahead 58-53, but the quickly Seawolves fought back and the game remained a one-possession affair for the final six minutes.

After NNU missed a pair of free throws with a 65-62 lead, Aden found Johansson in the lane for layup with 1:01 on the clock. Brady was then called for traveling with 28 seconds remaining, setting up UAA's final possession.

With the clock winding down, Gruwell launched a three-pointer from the corner that clanged off and fell into the arms of Johansson. The 6-2 Swede went up strong and drew a foul on Schulte to Buhne, setting up the winning free throws.

Johansson – who entered with a .615 free-throw percentage and had missed her first two charities of the night – calmly swished both tries, and Miller poked the ball away from Brady at midcourt, preventing a final Crusader attempt.

Aden finished with 13 points (5-8 FG, 3-5 3FG), four rebounds, three assists and a block, while Johansson shot 5 of 8 from the floor and grabbed five rebounds. Senior forward Nicci Miller came up with several big plays as well, tallying eight points, six rebounds, three assists and a career-high five steals.

With the win, the Seawolves avoided their first back-to-back losses since last February and avenged a 71-48 setback here last year. UAA is now 2-8 all-time in Nampa.

The Seawolves finish their three-game Great Northwest Athletic Conference road trip when they visit rival Alaska Fairbanks on Wednesday. That game tips off at 7 p.m. at the Patty Center.
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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
Kaitlin McBride

#21 Kaitlin McBride

G
5' 7"
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
Kaitlin McBride

#21 Kaitlin McBride

5' 7"
Junior
G