PORTLAND, Ore. – Junior forward
Kimani Fernandez sparked a late first-half surge and finished with a career-high 13 points Monday to help the Alaska Anchorage women's basketball team end its pandemic layoff with a 94-55 victory over Multnomah at Jim Skagen Court.
Senior point guard
Stephanie Jackson also forged a new career high, leading all scorers with 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting, and adding four assists and five steals. Fernandez made all six of her shots and grabbed six rebounds, sparking UAA to a 24-2 run to end the first half.
Multnomah (0-9) was led by 10 points and nine rebounds from center Clare Faber, but the NAIA program could not capitalize on a 27-19 lead midway through the second quarter and seeing the Seawolves miss their first 18 three-point attempts.
"Our slow start was a bit frustrating, but a little rust is understandable after not playing a real game for 380 days," said UAA head coach
Ryan McCarthy, whose team was ranked No. 4 in NCAA Div. II prior to the cancelation of the 2020 national tournament. "Multnomah played well and our shooters were just missing some open looks, but our veterans – especially Kimani and Amelia (Motz) during that big run – gave us a huge lift that turned the game around."
Despite their rough 6-of-39 shooting from long distance, the Seawolves played their trademark 'Mayhem' defense and turned 23 steals into a 37-12 advantage in points off turnovers. UAA was also accurate from close range, making 34 of 56 two-point attempts.
Senior center
Tennae Voliva scored 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting, while Motz and fellow senior forward
Sala Langi combined for 20 points, 16 rebounds and 8-of-16 shooting.
Twelve of the 14 active Seawolves made at least one field goal, including the first career baskets for newcomers
Elaina Mack (6 pts, 2-8 3FG),
Ra'Anaa Bey (4 pts, 2-7 FG) and
Malie Marfil (3 pts, 1-2 3FG).
Sophomore
Rachel Ingram dished a career-high four assists.
The Seawolves return to action Tuesday with another game in Portland against NAIA program Warner Pacific (2-3). Tip-off is 1 p.m. ADT, with live stats and video available at portal.stretchinternet.com/warnerpac.
