#17 Crusaders outlast Seawolves, 86-80

NAMPA, Idaho (Jan. 2) – Senior Kylie Burns led a big Alaska Anchorage comeback with 20 points and nine rebounds but the Seawolves' 4-game winning streak came to an end Thursday with an 86-80 loss to 17th-ranked Northwest Nazarene at the Johnson Sports Center.

The Seawolves (9-2, 2-1 GNAC) also got 15 points and five rebounds from sophomore Jessica Madison but could not overcome a slow start, coupled with 27 turnovers and a big free-throw discrepancy.

The Crusaders (9-2, 2-1) were led by 25 points and 15 rebounds from all-conference forward Megan Hingston, plus 24 points and four assists from point guard Taylor Simmons. NNU was guilty of 28 turnovers but outscored the Seawolves 38-15 at the free-throw line, taking advantage of 35 fouls against the visitors.

UAA fell behind 11-0 at the outset and trailed 34-17 late in the second half before Madison got hot, nailing a pair of three-pointers to draw within 40-30 at halftime.

The Seawolves took a 56-55 lead on a three-pointer by Jenna Buchanan midway through the second half for their first lead of the night and were tied 69-69 when Alli Madison made one of two from the charity stripe with 4:55 remaining.

Simmons drove in for a layup and Hingston added jumpers on three of the Crusaders' next four possessions, however, and UAA could not cut it to a one-possession game again.

Buchanan finished with 14 points, six rebounds and four assists, but Alli Madison – UAA's leading scorer – was held to a season-low eight points on 2-of-11 shooting. Freshman point guard Kiki Robertson had eight points and five steals and was among six Seawolves to collect at least four fouls.

After suffering their first loss to a fellow Div. II team this year, the Seawolves remain on the road for one more game, Saturday at Central Washington (5-6, 0-3 GNAC). Tip-off time in Ellensburg is 6 p.m. AST.

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Players Mentioned

#43 Kylie Burns: G; 5' 8"; Freshman

#10 Alli Madison: G; 5' 8"; Freshman

#RS Jessica Madison: G; 5' 8"; Freshman

#12 Jenna Buchanan: G; 5' 8"; Freshman

#23 Kiki Robertson: G; 5' 7"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#43 Kylie Burns
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: G

#10 Alli Madison
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: G

#RS Jessica Madison
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: G

#12 Jenna Buchanan
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: G

#23 Kiki Robertson
: 5' 7"; Freshman
: G