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Vikings vanquished in women's 'Farg' send-off

Women's Basketball UAA Media Relations

Vikings vanquished in women's 'Farg' send-off

ANCHORAGE – Sophomore guard Jenna Buchanan scored 14 points and grabbed six rebounds to lead a balanced Alaska Anchorage effort Saturday as the Seawolves earned a 79-75 victory over Western Washington in the final women's basketball game ever at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex.

The Seawolves (18-6, 11-5 GNAC) also got 14 points from freshman point guard Kiki Robertson – including 6-of-6 free-throw shooting in the final 65 seconds – and 14 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals from sophomore guard Jessica Madison.

With the victory, UAA earned a split of the season series and stopped a three-game losing streak against the defending Great Northwest Athletic Conference and NCAA Div. II West Region champs. It also creates a logjam in the race for second place and a first-round bye in the GNAC Tournament, with UAA trailing WWU and SFU by half a game for that spot.

The Vikings (16-9, 12-5), ranked No. 9 in this week's initial West Region poll, were led by 23 points and six assists from guard Katie Colard, plus 12 points and 16 rebounds from center Sarah Hill.

UAA, which had lost three straight to the Vikings, led nearly the entire way Saturday. The visitors from Bellingham took a 15-12 edge after eight minutes, but the Seawolves answered with consecutive three-pointers by Madison and would lead throughout.

After taking a 37-33 lead at halftime, the Seawolves stretched to a 57-44 advantage on a three-pointer by Kylie Burns at the 10:53 mark. A short jumper by KeKe Wright made it 63-51 with 7:27 left, but the Seawolves went cold for the next five minutes, and Katie Colard's three-pointer capped a 9-0 run for the Vikings.

Hill converted a layup and free throw with 4:24 left to pull her team within 65-63, and both teams went scoreless over the next two minutes before Madison swished her fourth and final three-pointer. Buchanan followed with a pair of layups on the next two possessions, and Jessica Madison stepped in front of a Viking pass to give UAA the ball with a 72-67 lead and 1:41 left.

Despite sinking 5 of 6 free throws over the next over the next minute, the Seawolves saw their lead cut to a single possession again when Jenni White stole the ball on the inbounds and Taylor Peacocke converted one of two free throws, making it 77-75 with 17 seconds remaining.

The Seawolves threw a long inbounds pass to Robertson, who raced down court and drew a foul on a layup attempt with 9.6 seconds showing. The Honolulu product swished both free-throw attempts to clinch the win.

Burns finished with 12 points, eight rebounds, five assists and no turnovers as the Seawolves' lone senior went out on a high note.

UAA – which played without injured leading scorer Alli Madison (14.0 ppg) – got at least six points from eight different players, including six points, four rebounds and a block from junior forward KeKe Wright. The Seawolves committed a season-low eight turnovers as a team.

Now winners of four straight, the Seawolves finish the regular season with games at fellow playoff contenders and regionally ranked Seattle Pacific (Thur., Feb. 27, 6 p.m. AST) and Montana State Billings (Sat., Mar. 1, 5 p.m. AST).

NOTES: UAA finishes with a 370-153 all-time record at the WFSC, where it has played the majority of its home games since 1978 … the Seawolves move into their new on-campus home next season in the Alaska Airlines Center … UAA surpassed last year's win total with the victory … Burns his two three-pointers to tie for the No. 10 spot on UAA's career treys list with 104 ... Burns also moved alone into fourth place with her 88th victory in a Seawolf uniform.

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Players Mentioned

Jenna Buchanan

#12 Jenna Buchanan

G
5' 8"
Sophomore
Kylie Burns

#43 Kylie Burns

F
5' 9"
Senior
Alli Madison

#4 Alli Madison

G
5' 8"
Junior
Jessica Madison

#25 Jessica Madison

G
5' 8"
Sophomore
Kiki Robertson

#23 Kiki Robertson

G
5' 7"
Freshman
KeKe Wright

#13 KeKe Wright

F
6' 0"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Jenna Buchanan

#12 Jenna Buchanan

5' 8"
Sophomore
G
Kylie Burns

#43 Kylie Burns

5' 9"
Senior
F
Alli Madison

#4 Alli Madison

5' 8"
Junior
G
Jessica Madison

#25 Jessica Madison

5' 8"
Sophomore
G
Kiki Robertson

#23 Kiki Robertson

5' 7"
Freshman
G
KeKe Wright

#13 KeKe Wright

6' 0"
Junior
F