Nanooks dodge Boxers' upset bid

ANCHORAGE – Alaska Fairbanks guard Benissa Bulaya scored 16 points, including a pair of late layups Friday to lift her team to a 67-60 basketball victory over Pacific (Ore.) in the opening game of the Seawolf Hoops Classic at the Alaska Airlines Center.

The Nanooks (7-4) also got 16 points from guard Arinesha Smith as they ended the game on 14-3 run over the last five minutes.

The Boxers (4-4) – an NCAA Div. III program from Forest Grove, Ore. – got 15 points and seven rebounds from guard Olivia Cook and 14 points and six rebounds from forward Sarah Curl.

Pacific led 35-30 at halftime and stretched to its greatest advantage with the first four points of the second half. UAF chipped away until Smith hit a three-pointer at the 4:39 mark and followed with a free throw a minute later to make it 57-57.

With the score still knotted, Bulaya drove for the go-ahead layup with 2 minutes on the clock, and she extended her team's lead to 63-60 on another layup with 31 seconds left. Following that play, Bulaya forced a tie-up with Curl to give the Nanooks the ball on the alternating possession, and UAF clinched it from the free throw line.

Bulaya added six rebounds and six assists to earn Hoops Classic Player of the Game honors.

Alaska Fairbanks completes action at the Classic with a 5 p.m. contest Saturday against Texas A&M Kingsville, while Pacific will face host Alaska Anchorage in the event's finale at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Print Friendly Version