ANCHORAGE (Nov. 4) – The Alaska Anchorage women's basketball team will get a major reinforcement for the second portion of the 2025-26 season as head coach Matt Thune announced Tuesday that transfer Taylor Searcey will join the Seawolves at the semester break.

A 5-8 guard, Searcey was a two-time All-Gulf South Conference performer at fellow NCAA Div. II program Valdosta State, where she played from 2020-24. She helped the Lady Blazers to the program's first Elite Eight appearance in 37 years as a second-year freshman, before leading the team in scoring (12.4 ppg) and rebounding (7.0 rpg) as a sophomore. Searcey showed her versatility as a junior, leading VSU in assists (4.1 apg).

The Lincoln, Neb., native transferred to Div. I program Chattanooga for the 2024-25 season, where she was forced to redshirt due to injury.

"Taylor is a fierce competitor who brings valuable championship experience to our program," said Thune, whose team opens the season Friday (7 pm) and Saturday (3:15 pm) against Northwest University at the Alaska Airlines Center. "She is a student of the game and has a desire to get into collegiate coaching once she graduates. I think it says a lot for our program that she chose to finish her career at UAA, and we can't wait for her to join us on the court."

Searcey was a two-time All-City selection at Lincoln East High School, leading her team to a 2020 state runner-up finish and earning multiple individual state titles in cross country and track & field.

She is the second player to commit to the Seawolf program for the second semester, joining fellow D-II transfer Jaela Reid (5-11, G/F, Davis & Elkins).