ANCHORAGE (Nov. 22) – Senior guard Jazzpher Evans scored 14 points to help stake host Alaska Anchorage to a big halftime lead, but Troy guard Shaulana Wagner answered with 20 points Friday to lift the visitors to an 80-73 overtime victory in the semifinals of the ASRC/ConocoPhillips Great Alaska Shootout women's basketball tournament at the Alaska Airlines Center.

The Seawolves (6-1) – who counted the game as an exhibition – also got 13 points, six rebounds and four steals from senior center Tori Hollingshead as they move on to face Vermont in Saturday's 6:15 pm third-place contest.

The Trojans (2-4) erased a 39-19 halftime deficit thanks also to an 18-point, 13-rebound effort from forward Fortuna Ngnawo, earning a spot in Saturday's 8:30 p.m. title game against North Dakota State. NDSU defeated Vermont 58-50 in the other semifinal.

"We came out on fire and they seemed flat in the first half," said UAA head coach Ryan McCarthy. "Unfortunately, we didn't execute our game plan on either end of the floor in the second half, and against this level of competition, they will make you pay. Credit to Troy, and we will look to bounce back from this with a renewed energy when we hit the court tomorrow."

Looking to add a ninth Shootout title to their resume, the Div. II Seawolves raced to a 9-0 lead and dominated the opening 20 minutes, outshooting the Sun Belt Conference club .469 (15-32) to .259 (7-27).

The Div. I visitors from Alabama found their stride in the third quarter, however, shooting 10 of 16 from the field and 10 of 12 at the foul stripe. UAA led 58-49 heading into the fourth and 66-55 when Kenzie Sirowich swished a midrange jumper at the 4:11 mark.

Troy answered immediately with a three from reserve guard Leilani Guion though, and tallied six points on their next trip downcourt, getting a putback from Zay Dyer and a four-point play by Briana Peguero after a quick UAA turnover.

UAA led 67-64 after Evans split a pair of free throws with 2:13 remaining, but neither team would score until Wagner drove for a layup and foul with 23 seconds left. Wagner made the free throw, and the game went to overtime when Evans's three-point try came up short.

The Trojans controlled the extra session, shooting 4 of 7 to UAA's 2 of 12, as Dyer finished with 14 points and eight rebounds.

UAA also got 11 points, eight assists and five rebounds from senior point guard Emilia Long, while junior guard Elaina Mack had 11 points and five rebounds. Freshman forward Ashlyn Rean led UAA with eight rebounds.

Both Troy and North Dakota State will make their first Shootout final appearance Saturday in the tournament's 41st edition.

Find links tickets and links to live video and stats for both games at GoSeawolves.com.