Scoreboard

Late run propels Seawolves past 'Nooks, 96-87

Women's Basketball UAA Media Relations

Late run propels Seawolves past 'Nooks, 96-87

FAIRBANKS – Led by clutch play from freshman Kiki Robertson and sophomore Jenna Buchanan, the Alaska Anchorage women's basketball team used a late run to overcome an upset bid by rival Alaska Fairbanks, earning a 96-87 victory at the Patty Center on Saturday.

The Seawolves (12-3, 5-2 GNAC) extended their series-best win streak to 13 against the Nanooks (8-7, 2-5) as they opened and closed the game with identical runs of 21-6. In between, UAF fought off a pair of double-digit deficits and looked to have UAA on the ropes thanks to 22 points and 16 rebounds from freshman forward Jordan Wilson and 21 points from junior guard Kelly Logue.

Robertson finished with 19 points, five rebounds and six steals to pace seven Seawolves with eight or more points, including four 15-plus efforts. Buchanan, a guard from Galena, tied her career high with 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting, nailing three baskets in the second half that flipped the score back in UAA's favor. Meanwhile, junior center Emily Craft had 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting and nine rebounds, and junior guard Alli Madison had 15 points and five assists.

After taking a 49-40 lead into the locker room, the Seawolves extended to 53-40 on a layup by Robertson and were up 58-46 on a Robertson three-pointer at the 16:51 mark of the second half.

UAF answered with huge surge, though, and took its first advantage of the night, 64-62, on Wilson layup with 10:35 left. Buchanan briefly gave UAA a 69-68 lead on a three-pointer at the 9-minute mark before the Nanooks responded to stretch their lead to 81-75 with 5:25 remaining.

But Madison and Craft produced four quick points and Buchanan drained a trey from the corner as UAA went ahead 82-81 with 4:27 left. Two free throws by Kaillee Skjold gave UAF its final lead at the 4:16 mark before Buchanan answered with her final jumper – this time from mid-range – to make it 84-83 at the 2:51 mark. Robertson extended the lead with a driving, left-hand layup moments later, and Craft secured the ensuing Nanook miss on the other end, leading to a parade of clinching free throws for the Seawolves.

Along with Western Washington's win over Saint Martin's in Lacey and MSU Billings' home win over Northwest Nazarene on Saturday, UAA's victory creates a four-way tie for first place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. UAA, WWU, SMU and MSUB all own 5-2 marks after seven of 18 games on the league schedule.

The Seawolves next face a road showdown against WWU on Thursday (6 p.m. AST) in Bellingham.

NOTES: UAA's win streak against UAF equals the second-longest against any program, along with the current streak of 13 against former (1980s) league foe Metro State; the Seawolves' longest streak is also a current one, which they recently stretched to 20 against Western Oregon … Robertson shot 7 of 10 from the field and came one shy of her career high in steals … Buchanan tied her career scoring high for the third time with her season-best effort … Craft – a JC transfer – had three of UAA's 15 steals for her best showing as a Seawolf.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Alli Madison

#10 Alli Madison

G
5' 8"
Freshman
Jenna Buchanan

#12 Jenna Buchanan

G
5' 8"
Freshman
Emily Craft

#41 Emily Craft

C
6' 2"
Junior
Kiki Robertson

#23 Kiki Robertson

G
5' 7"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Alli Madison

#10 Alli Madison

5' 8"
Freshman
G
Jenna Buchanan

#12 Jenna Buchanan

5' 8"
Freshman
G
Emily Craft

#41 Emily Craft

6' 2"
Junior
C
Kiki Robertson

#23 Kiki Robertson

5' 7"
Freshman
G