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#1 UAA survives road test, clinches GNAC tie

Women's Basketball UAA Media Relations

#1 UAA survives road test, clinches GNAC tie

BURNABY, British Columbia – Junior guard Jenna Buchanan scored 19 points, including the go-ahead basket with 2 minutes remaining, to lift top-ranked Alaska Anchorage to a 63-59 victory over Simon Fraser at the SFU West Gymnasium.

With their 12th straight victory and Seattle Pacific's upset loss earlier in the evening, the Seawolves (24-1, 14-1 GNAC) clinched at least a tie for the Great Northwest Athletic Conference title.

Simon Fraser (13-11, 9-7) got 15 points from senior forward Erin Chambers, but the nation's leading scorer was held to 6-of-20 shooting and committed eight of her team's 24 turnovers. Clan center Meg Wilson had 13 points, six rebounds and four blocks, but the hosts could not complete a spirited second-half comeback.

“This was a great test tonight from an extremely talented and well coached team,” said third-year Seawolf head coach Ryan McCarthy. “I can't think of a more satisfying way to clinch the league than with a hard-fought win like this. We haven't had many close games in the final minutes, so hopefully this will serve as a good experience at playoff time.”

UAA led 29-21 at halftime before SFU opened the second half with 17-4 run, going ahead 38-33 on Wilson's layup with 13:50 left. Buchanan forged a 41-41 tie with a layup midway through the half, and the game remained a one-possession affair most of the way until Alli Madison nailed back-to-back transition jumpers in the lane to give UAA a 52-47 lead with 4:40 remaining.

But the Clan answered with a three-pointer and Wilson completed a three-point play to retake the advantage at 53-52. After exchanging baskets on the next two possessions, Buchanan got loose in the lane and dropped in a soft 5-foot jumper with 2:18 on the clock to give UAA the lead for good, then added another bucket at the 1:55 mark. On SFU's next chance, Seawolf forward KeKe Wright deflected a baseline inbounds pass that fell into Madison's hands. The team's only 4th-year senior coolly swished both free throws to extend the cushion to 60-55 with 1:15 left.

Chambers nailed a long two-point shot with just 1.5 seconds left to cut it to 61-59, and sophomore forward Alysha Devine sealed the final score with two free throws.

Alli Madison finished with 14 points, five rebounds, three assists and four steals, and junior guard Jessica Madison scored 10 points – including a key three-pointer late in the second half. Junior center Megan Mullings added 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting and six rebounds, while Devine pulled down a game-high eight rebounds.

With its 12th straight win, the Seawolves equal their streak to start the season, tying for the third-longest streak in program history.

With three games remaining in the regular season, UAA needs just one more victory or a loss by SPU or Western Washington to win the title outright. The Seawolves face WWU – ranked No. 10 in the NCAA Div. II West Region poll – on Saturday at 6 p.m. AST in Bellingham, Wash.

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Players Mentioned

Alli Madison

#10 Alli Madison

G
5' 8"
Freshman
Jessica Madison

#RS Jessica Madison

G
5' 8"
Freshman
Jenna Buchanan

#12 Jenna Buchanan

G
5' 8"
Freshman
Alysha Devine

#15 Alysha Devine

F
6' 0"
Freshman
KeKe Wright

#13 KeKe Wright

F
6' 0"
Junior
Megan Mullings

#11 Megan Mullings

F
6' 1"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Alli Madison

#10 Alli Madison

5' 8"
Freshman
G
Jessica Madison

#RS Jessica Madison

5' 8"
Freshman
G
Jenna Buchanan

#12 Jenna Buchanan

5' 8"
Freshman
G
Alysha Devine

#15 Alysha Devine

6' 0"
Freshman
F
KeKe Wright

#13 KeKe Wright

6' 0"
Junior
F
Megan Mullings

#11 Megan Mullings

6' 1"
Junior
F