Buchanan sparks Seawolves over Toros, 82-61

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Senior guard Jenna Buchanan scored 22 of her 28 points in the second half Saturday to lift the Alaska Anchorage women's basketball team to a key NCAA Div. II West Region victory with an 82-61 decision against Cal State Dominguez Hills in the CCA Tip-Off Classic at the Anaheim Convention Center.

The Seawolves (2-0) also got 14 points, four assists and two steals from junior point guard Kiki Robertson as they snapped a 38-38 halftime tie and outscored the Toros 44-23 in the final 20 minutes.

The Toros (0-2) got 16 points and a game-high nine rebounds from reserve forward Imari Brown, but the L.A.-area squad was hurt by foul trouble and 26 turnovers in a matchup of the top two seeds in last year's West Regional Championships.

After shooting just 36 percent in the first half, the Seawolves stormed out of the locker room with a 9-2 run in the first two minutes to grab a 47-40 lead and never looked back.

Buchanan shot 9 of 11 from the field, including 8 of 10 from long range, and added three steals as she surpassed her previous career-best of 21 points. The Galena native now has 12 treys in UAA's first two games as she has moved up to No. 5 on the program's career list with 143. Her eight treys against the Toros came just one shy of tying the program's single-game record, set by former teammate Sasha King.

The Seawolves – the preseason favorites in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference – also got big efforts from redshirt freshman Hannah Wandersee (10 points, 4-4 FG) and sophomore forward Sierra Afoa (11 points, 6-6 FT, career-high-tying 3 assists) off the bench.

Even with an extra hour for the end of Daylight Savings Time, the Seawolves have a quick turnaround before their next game at 10:15 a.m. (Alaska time) Sunday against fellow West Region contender Academy of Art. That game will be played at CSUDH's Torodome, one hour north in Carson, Calif.

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Players Mentioned

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

#RS Sierra Afoa: F; 5' 9"; Freshman

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

#43 Hannah Wandersee: F/C; 6' 1"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

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

#RS Sierra Afoa
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: F

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

#43 Hannah Wandersee
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: F/C