Scoreboard

Seawolves survive scare from Wolves

Women's Basketball UAA Media Relations

Seawolves survive scare from Wolves

MONMOUTH, Ore. – Nicci Miller produced a double-double and fellow senior Tamar Gruwell hit the game-winning free throws with 31 seconds left Thursday as the 14th-ranked Alaska Anchorage women's basketball team earned a 62-60 victory against Western Oregon at the New P.E. Building.

The Seawolves (19-3, 9-2 GNAC) got 11 points apiece from Gruwell and sophomore center Hanna Johansson, while Miller had 15 points and 10 rebounds to fight off the upset bid and earn UAA's fifth straight win.

Western Oregon (10-16, 5-7) was led by a game-high 20 points from senior forward Katie Torland, but the home team was outscored 8-4 after its star fouled out with 3:04 remaining.

The victory was UAA's 13th straight over WOU – tying the program record for consecutive wins against an opponent (Metro State) – but the Seawolves had to fight all night to earn this one.

After forging a 23-18 lead with 5:28 left in the first half, the Seawolves fell behind 32-31 at halftime. The game eventually featured 10 ties and 11 lead changes, with neither team leading by more than six points.

That was WOU's advantage at 51-45 when Shayla Corder (15 points) nailed a fastbreak layup with 7:18 left. UAA responded with a bank-shot from Johansson to start a 5-0 spurt, and the Seawolves tied it at 54-54 on Miller's putback of her own miss at the 3:27 mark.

Trailing 56-54 on their next possession, junior forward Kelsie Gourdin made a strong drive and drew the fifth foul on Torland, who also had five rebounds and three assists. Gourdin converted both free throws to tie it, but WOU came back with four straight charity shots of its own to make it 60-56 with 2:16 remaining.

The Wolves would not score again, however, and Miller started UAA's game-ending 6-0 run by drawing a double-team and dishing to Gourdin for a layup. Miller then stole a pass from Zahler and hit a jumper on the other end to knot it with 1:10 showing.

Gourdin grabbed the rebound of Corder's missed three-pointer on the other end, and Sara Zahler was whistled for an off-ball foul, knocking Gruwell to the floor at the top of the key.

Gruwell – a 90 percent free-throw shooter – drained both shots, leaving the home team one last chance. The Seawolves clamped down on the last possession, knocking the ball out of bounds with 10 seconds left and then forcing a tie-up with 2.3 seconds on the clock. Trying to inbound under their own basket, the Wolves' pass was deflected and the ball wound up in a scramble as the buzzer sounded.

UAA is now 4-1 in games decided by three points or less and 17-0 when outrebounding its opponent.

The reigning Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Week, Miller finished with four steals, two assists and no turnovers. Gourdin produced another well balanced stat line with six points, three blocks and three steals, and Oregon native Nikki Aden had eight points and three steals.

UAA, ranked No. 4 in the NCAA Div. II West Region, continues its three-game road trip Saturday with a trip to Lacey, Wash., to face Saint Martin's. Tip-off is set for 4:15 p.m.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Nikki Aden

#25 Nikki Aden

G/F
5' 8"
Freshman
Kelsie Gourdin

#RS Kelsie Gourdin

F
5' 10"
Junior
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

Players Mentioned

Nikki Aden

#25 Nikki Aden

5' 8"
Freshman
G/F
Kelsie Gourdin

#RS Kelsie Gourdin

5' 10"
Junior
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