LACEY, Wash. – Junior point guard Nicole Pinckney scored 15 points, including a key three-pointer with two minutes remaining, to help No. 1 Alaska Anchorage open defense of its Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's basketball title with a 66-58 win at No. 25 Saint Martin's Thursday.

"I thought our ladies competed very hard tonight," said head coach Ryan McCarthy. "We have some things to iron out on the offensive end, but our defense earned us that victory, and for that I'm very proud."

The Seawolves (6-0, 1-0 GNAC) struggled shooting the ball early, making just 4-of-18 (22-percent) shots in the first 10 minutes. UAA's offense found its shooting stride in the second quarter shooting 58 percent (7-12) to lead 27-21 at the half.

The Seawolf defense kept them in the game early forcing 17 turnovers in the first 20 minutes, and finished with 26 points off of 25 Saints turnovers in the game.

UAA enjoyed its largest lead of the game, 42-29, with just over three minutes to go in the third period thanks to a pair of three-pointers from Nicole Pickney and Jahnna Hajdukovich, and a putback layup from Tennae Voliva.

The Saints battled back in the fourth quarter, cutting the Seawolves' lead to 50-48 with 6:05 remaining, but UAA used a 7-2 run to go back on top 57-50 just 90 seconds later. SMU would cut the lead to as few as four twice, but UAA would get the win to improve to 6-0 overall and 1-0 in conference play.

Pinckney earned her season-high scoring total on 3-of-3 three-point accuracy, while Voliva recorded the first double-double of the season for UAA, finishing with 11 points, 11 rebounds – six offensive – and three steals.

Kimani Fernandez and Stephanie Jackson each added nine points.

Rian Clear led three Saint Martin's players with 17 points.

UAA outscored SMU in the paint 34-16, but the Saints won the rebounding battle 38-36. The Seawolves bench outscored the Saints 29-4.

The six-time defending GNAC champions are scheduled to play next Saturday at Western Oregon, which had its Thursday contest against Alaska Fairbanks postponed due to health and safety protocols.