ANCHORAGE – Senior forward Vishe' Rabb scored 14 points and sophomore forward Kate Robertson added 12 points and five assists Friday to power the Alaska Anchorage women's basketball team to a 64-51 victory Friday over UC Riverside in the opening round of the ASRC/ConocoPhillips Great Alaska Shootout at the Alaska Airlines Center.

The Div. II Seawolves – for whom the game counted as an exhibition – also got nine points and seven rebounds from senior guard Jahnna Hajdukovich as they advanced to Saturday's 7:30 p.m. title game against La Salle.

The Highlanders (0-4) were led by 13 points on 6-of-11 shooting and six rebounds from forward Matehya Bryant, but the Div. I visitors were outrebound 35-27 and outshot 46 percent to 35 percent from the field.

"I was really proud of our effort tonight. I thought we came out in the first quarter and executed our game plan before we had that lull in the second quarter and let our foot off the gas pedal," said UAA head coach Ryan McCarthy, whose team will defend its crown from the last time the tournament was held in 2017. "At halftime we talked about the difference between 75 percent effort and 100 percent, and they took that to heart on the court when we came out.

"We're excited to have the opportunity tomorrow to compete for a championship and continue the amazing tradition this program has established in this historic tournament."

The Seawolves earned the win with big runs at the beginning of the first and third quarters, starting off with a 17-4 burst out of the gate.

The Highlanders forged a 26-26 halftime tie when Bryant sank an off-balance three-pointer at the buzzer, but their momentum would not last past the break. Robertson sank two free throws on UAA's opening possession of the third quarter to start a 10-0 run over the next five minutes, capped by a Jazzpher Evans layup on a pass from Robertson.

Hajdukovich sank a three-pointer to give UAA its largest lead at 50-35 with 9:28 left in the game, and Riverside only crept within single digits once, 55-47, with 3:51 left.

A transfer from Augustana (S.D.), Rabb shot 4 of 10 from the field and 6 of 7 at the free-throw line, along with six rebounds, four rebounds and two assists, while Robertson shot 5 of 10  and grabbed five boards.

Senior guard Ra'Anaa Bey had four points, four rebounds, six assists and just one turnover, while junior guard Anaiah Moore delivered six points on 3-of-3 shooting and three assists.

The victory improves UAA's all-time Shootout record to 39-56 – against all Div. I competition – in the 39th edition of the tournament. The Seawolves will aim for their eighth title (1990, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2017) when they face the Explorers in Saturday's finale, while Riverside will play fellow California school Pepperdine for third place a 5:15 p.m. AST.

GAME 1: La Salle 83, Pepperdine 81 (OT)
Claire Jacobs scored 27 points and guard Charity Shears sank a floater in the lane with half a second remaining Friday in overtime to lift the Explorers to victory in Game 1 of the Shootout.

La Salle (4-1) also got 16 points and five rebounds from forward Kayla Spruill as the Philadelphians erased a 49-35 deficit with 4:20 remaining in the third quarter.

The Waves (0-3) were led by 22 points from guard Ally Stedman and 12 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds from point guard Marly Walls.