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#3 UAA survives scare at Simon Fraser, 76-74

Women's Basketball UAA Media Relations

#3 UAA survives scare at Simon Fraser, 76-74

BURNABY, British Columbia – Senior Jenna Buchanan scored 16 points and the nationally 3rd-ranked Alaska Anchorage women's basketball team survived a late Simon Fraser charge to earn a 76-74 victory on Thursday at the SFU West Gymnasium.

The Seawolves (12-0, 1-0 GNAC) also got 13 points apiece from seniors Megan Mullings and Keiahnna Engel as they claimed the Great Northwest Athletic Conference opener and matched the program record for best start to a season.

The Clan (2-4, 0-1) got a game-high 18 points from wing Alisha Roberts, plus 14 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks from center Rachel Fradgley, but the Canadians lost to the Seawolves for the fifth straight time – including three losses by four points or fewer in the last 10 months.

Entering with an average winning margin of 41 points, the Seawolves appeared to have things in control early, forging a 21-10 lead after one quarter and extending to 30-16 midway through the second quarter. But the Clan rallied to within 41-34 at halftime and sliced it to 43-40 on a three-pointer by Ellen Kett early in the third quarter.

Buchanan answered with one of her four three-pointers and Madison drove the lane for a layup to put the Seawolves back in control with a 7-0 spurt, and Mullings converted a feed from Sierra Afoa for a 68-56 lead with 7:42 left in the fourth quarter.

Buchanan hit a midrange jumper to give UAA a 75-68 lead with just 1:48 on the clock, but the Seawolves would go empty on their next two possessions, and SFU forward Samantha Beauchamp made it 75-74 with two free throws at the 20-second mark.

Madison split a pair of free throws with 17 seconds on the clock, giving the Clan a chance to tie or take their first lead of the night. Kett – who had made 3 of 4 treys to that point – got an open look from the top of the key, but her shot failed to hit the rim and bounced out of bounds to the Seawolves with two seconds remaining. Madison was fouled an missed both free throws with one second on the clock, and the hosts could not get a shot off.

UAA's victory extends a pair of program records as the Seawolves claimed their 18th straight road/neutral game and 13th straight true road contest. UAA's 12-0 record also equals the program's best start to a season, along with the 2006-07 and 2014-15 clubs.

The Seawolves have another tough GNAC test on tap Saturday with a 3 p.m. tip scheduled in Bellingham, Wash., against perennial contender Western Washington (4-3, 1-0).

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Players Mentioned

Jenna Buchanan

#12 Jenna Buchanan

G
5' 8"
Freshman
Sierra Afoa

#RS Sierra Afoa

F
5' 9"
Freshman
Megan Mullings

#11 Megan Mullings

F
6' 1"
Junior
Keiahnna Engel

#21 Keiahnna Engel

G
5' 7"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Jenna Buchanan

#12 Jenna Buchanan

5' 8"
Freshman
G
Sierra Afoa

#RS Sierra Afoa

5' 9"
Freshman
F
Megan Mullings

#11 Megan Mullings

6' 1"
Junior
F
Keiahnna Engel

#21 Keiahnna Engel

5' 7"
Senior
G