HONOLULU (Nov. 10) – Junior center
Tori Hollingshead delivered 20 points and nine rebounds and sophomore guard
Elaina Mack had 17 points on perfect shooting Friday to propel the Alaska Anchorage women's basketball team to a 66-48 victory over Hawaii Pacific in the GNAC/PacWest Challenge at The Shark Tank.
The Seawolves (1-1) also got 13 points and three steals from junior guard
Jazzpher Evans as they outshot the hosts .448 (26 of 58) to .208 (11 of 53) to overcome a slow start.
The Sharks (0-1) were led by 11 points from forward Jordyn Jensen, who did all of her scoring from the free throw line.
UAA survived for the win despite a 29-16 foul differential and 7-of-23 shooting from the charity stripe, finishing the game with four players with four fouls and three more with three.
"We got off to a shaky start, especially with our starting point guard getting in early foul trouble, but
Mia Ross (5 points, 3 assists, one turnover) came in and really steadied us offensively to get us going," said UAA head coach
Ryan McCarthy. "Tori played at a high level, and
Elaina Mack was a difference maker with her shooting and all-around solid play tonight."
Trying to stay unbeaten in their 13th all-time meeting against the Sharks, the Seawolves fell behind 7-0 in the opening three minutes, and saw point guard
Senya Rabouin (5 points, 5 rebounds) head to the bench with two quick fouls.
Hollingshead – who shot 9 of 11 and added three steals – and Mack got the scoring started, however, and UAA rallied within 18-16 after one quarter.
Tied 21-21, UAA junior guard
Kya Pearson (4 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals) hit a floating jumper to take the lead for good, and the halftime advantage would stretch to 34-26.
The Sharks stayed within striking distance for much of the third quarter before Mack drained a three-pointer for a 49-37 advantage at the final break. Mack struck again for a trey to make it 56-41 with seven minutes remaining, and capped her 5-of-5 three-point night with the final bucket of the game. The King Cove native also made both of her free throws, grabbed three rebounds, and committed no turnovers in 22 minutes off the bench.
UAA returns to the same court Saturday at noon AST to face Hawaii Hilo (0-1).
