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Falcons top Seawolves in tight NCAA tilt

Women's Basketball UAA Media Relations

Falcons top Seawolves in tight NCAA tilt

SEATTLE – Seattle Pacific guard Daesha Henderson had game-highs of 16 points and five assists Saturday to lead her team to a 52-48 women's basketball victory over Alaska Anchorage in a clash of nationally ranked teams in the NCAA Div. II West Regional second round at Royal Brougham Pavilion.

The Seawolves (24-5) got 11 points and a game-high nine rebounds from senior forward Nicci Miller, but the home team managed to avenge their losses to UAA in the last two West Regional title games.

The Falcons, ranked No. 13 nationally and seeded No. 1 in the regional, also got 12 points and eight rebounds from forward Megan Hoisington, while center Melissa Reich finished with 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting. SPU moves on to Monday night's regional final against No. 6 seed Chico State for the right to play in the NCAA Elite Eight, Mar. 23-26 in St. Joseph, Mo.

UAA's season came to an end despite coming back from a 30-21 deficit early in the second half. The Seawolves took the lead at 42-41 with 3:34 remaning when junior forward Kelsie Gourdin put back a miss by Hanna Johansson, and UAA gained a two-point advantage minutes later when Johansson converted a three-point play to make it 45-43 at the 1:39 mark.

Tied 45-45, however, Johansson missed a short jumper in the lane and was called for an over-the-back foul, sending Reich to the free-throw line. The SPU junior made the first and missed the second, but Miller was called for traveling as she grabbed the rebound.

After two missed free throws by Henderson, Reich grabbed a key offensive rebound, and Henderson converted on her next two tries for a 48-45 lead.

After Aden sank one of two free throws, Henderson swished two charities to make it a two-possession game, 50-46, with 16 seconds left. Aden drove in for an uncontested layup to slice the lead in half again with 8 seconds to play before SPU's Nyesha Sims sealed the game with two more free throws.

The Seawolves, who came in No. 14 nationally and No. 4 in the the regional seeding, also got nine points from senior guard Tamar Gruwell (3-6 3FG), plus eight points apiece from Aden and fellow junior Kelsie Gourdin.

Three of the Seawolves' five losses this season came to the Falcons, who beat UAA 57-42 here in January and 67-60 last Saturday in Anchorage.

“I'm really proud of our kids despite tonight's outcome,” said head coach Tim Moser, who now has a 108-20 record after four seasons at the Seawolf helm. “We had a tough adjustment at mid-season when (starting point guard) Kiki (Taylor) went down with her injury, and the kids bounced back and made a solid run at this regional title again. I feel bad for our seniors who put their heart and soul into this season, but we'll regroup and hopefully be even better next year.”

UAA's final mark of 24-5 equals the third-best record in school history, along with coach Linda Bruns' 1987-88 club that reached the NCAA Sweet 16. The five losses also tied for the second-fewest in program history, dating to the 1977-78 campaign.

The Seawolves had advanced to the last two NCAA national semifinals before losing tonight's showdown.
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Players Mentioned

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

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