Scoreboard

Women clip Clan, clinch GNAC berth

Women's Basketball UAA Media Relations

Women clip Clan, clinch GNAC berth

ANCHORAGE – Junior center Emily Craft scored 16 points and sophomore guard Jenna Buchanan had her first career double-double Thursday to power Alaska Anchorage to an 87-71 women's basketball victory over regionally 2nd-ranked Simon Fraser at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex.

The Seawolves (17-6, 10-5 GNAC) also got 14 points, seven assists and three steals from freshman point guard Kiki Robertson as they earned a split of the season series with SFU and clinched a berth in next month's Great Northwest Athletic Conference Tournament.

The Clan (16-7, 11-5) were led by 22 points and four steals from the GNAC's leading scorer, junior forward Erin Chambers, but the visitors from British Columbia were forced into 25 turnovers and took 29 fewer shots (77-48) than their hosts.

UAA led from start to finish, with Craft tallying 10 points in the first half to forge a 39-25 cushion. Despite trailing by as many as 18 points, though, the Clan launched a 9-of-13 three-point barrage after the break to stay within striking distance. After a Katie Lowen trey sliced UAA's lead to 70-62 at the 5:46 mark, the Seawolves answered with a three-pointer from reserve guard Alyssa Hutchins, and Jessica Madison delivered a back-breaking three with 3:39 left to make it 80-65.

Craft tied her career scoring high thanks to 6-of-8 shooting (4-4 FTs) and made four steals to help UAA to its most swipes (21) in a league game this year, while Madison finished with 13 points on 4-of-9 three-point accuracy, along with four assists.

Senior forward Kylie Burns – playing in her next-to-last home game – had an outstanding all-around effort with 12 points, five rebounds, four assists and a career-high five steals, while Buchanan added 10 points, a career-high 10 rebounds, three assists, two steals and no turnovers.

UAA plays its final game ever at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex on Saturday when it hosts regionally 9th-ranked Western Washington on 'senior night' at 5:15 p.m. The Seawolves will move into the brand-new Alaska Airlines Center next year.

NOTES: With her seven assists, Robertson ran her total to 120 for the season, breaking Allegra Stoetzel's UAA freshman record of 119 from 1992-93 ... on the freshman scoring list, Robertson rose from 10th to 6th place, now with 259 points … Craft equaled her career-high scoring total, set last month in a road win over Alaska Fairbanks … Buchanan's career-high 10 rebounds topped her previous best of nine, accomplished twice as a freshman.

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Players Mentioned

Kylie Burns

#43 Kylie Burns

G
5' 8"
Freshman
Jessica Madison

#RS Jessica Madison

G
5' 8"
Freshman
Jenna Buchanan

#12 Jenna Buchanan

G
5' 8"
Freshman
Alyssa Hutchins

#10 Alyssa Hutchins

G
5' 7"
Freshman
Emily Craft

#41 Emily Craft

C
6' 2"
Junior
Kiki Robertson

#23 Kiki Robertson

G
5' 7"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Kylie Burns

#43 Kylie Burns

5' 8"
Freshman
G
Jessica Madison

#RS Jessica Madison

5' 8"
Freshman
G
Jenna Buchanan

#12 Jenna Buchanan

5' 8"
Freshman
G
Alyssa Hutchins

#10 Alyssa Hutchins

5' 7"
Freshman
G
Emily Craft

#41 Emily Craft

6' 2"
Junior
C
Kiki Robertson

#23 Kiki Robertson

5' 7"
Freshman
G