#18 Seawolves race past 'Jackets, 76-60

BILLINGS, Mont. – Freshman Leah Bonner scored 17 points to lead an balanced scoring effort Thursday as 18th-ranked Alaska Anchorage earned a 76-60 women's basketball victory over Montana State Billings in the league opener for both teams at Alterowitz Gymnasium.

The Seawolves (6-0, 1-0 GNAC) also got 15 points from sophomore point guard Kiki Robertson and 14 points, five rebounds and five steals from senior wing Alli Madison as they forced the defending Great Northwest Athletic Conference champions into 25 turnovers and outrebounded them 34-22.

The Yellowjackets (5-3, 0-1) got a game-high 19 points from center Kayleen Goggins but could not dig out of an early hole against UAA's pressure defense.

UAA raced to an 8-0 lead in the first three minutes and went ahead 23-11 with just under 9 minutes left in the first half. The visitors led by double digits until a late MSUB run cut it to 66-57 at the 3:25 mark. Bonner answered by making one of two free throws and KeKe Wright followed with a rebound basket to re-extend the lead, though.

Wright finished with 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting and seven rebounds, equaling Bonner's game-high totals on the boards.

Junior guard Jenna Buchanan sparked the first-half run with back-to-back three-pointers and finished with eight points, while Bonner, Robertson and junior guard Adriana Dent swiped three steals each. UAA outscored the Yellowjackets 32-6 in points off turnovers and 40-20 in points in the paint.

Up next, the Seawolves face a showdown at 23rd-ranked Seattle Pacific, which entered Thursday as one of just three unbeaten teams in the NCAA Div. II West Region, along with UAA and Cal State San Bernardino. That game tips at 6 p.m. Saturday at Royal Brougham Pavilion in Seattle.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

#RS Adriana Dent: G; 5' 9"; Junior

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

#13 KeKe Wright: F; 6' 0"; Junior

#21 Leah Bonner: F; 6' 0"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

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

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

#RS Adriana Dent
: 5' 9"; Junior
: G

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

#13 KeKe Wright
: 6' 0"; Junior
: F

#21 Leah Bonner
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: F