ANCHORAGE (June 12) – The Alaska Anchorage women's basketball team has bolstered its roster with the first four recruits under new head coach Matt Thune, who announced Thursday that Lillee Duffin, Mahaila Harrison, Brooke Leo and Faith Mersburgh have signed scholarship agreements.

A 6-1 forward, Duffin played two seasons for junior college power Lane Community College in Eugene, Ore., helping the Titans to a 62-3 combined record (including a 45-game win streak), the 2023-24 NWAC title and a 2024-25 NWAC runner-up finish. The Idaho Falls, Idaho, native was named All-NWAC South Region Second Team as a sophomore with 10.3 points per game on .530 shooting, 12.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. She had 14 double-doubles and grabbed double-digit boards in 25 of 32 contests in 2024-25, averaging 17.5 rpg over four games in 2025 NWAC playoffs. Duffin was a first team all-league performer as a prep senior at Idaho Falls High School, making the East Idaho All-Star squad as well.

Coach Thune says:
"Lillee is a forward who can play both inside and out on the perimeter. She has a unique eye for rebounding the ball at a high rate, as evidenced by some of her 20-plus rebound games while at Lane. I am especially excited about her vision of the game and how she makes the right reads as a forward. Lillee averaged 2.7 assists last season and had a positive assist-to-turnover ratio, which will be a benefit at her position in our offensive system."

A 6-0 guard, Harrison comes north after two seasons at NCAA Div. I program VCU, where she redshirted in 2024-25 and played in 14 games as a true freshman on a Rams squad that went 26-6. As a high school senior, she played at DME Sports Academy in Daytona Beach, Fla., earning first-team SIAA honors and helping her squad to a state title with 11.0 points per game. Originally from Vancouver, Wash., Harrison starred at Hudson's Bay High School, leading her team to its best-ever WIAA 2A State finish in 2022.

Coach Thune says:
 "Mahaila is a long and versatile guard who is hungry to get on the court and get to work. She's always been known for her ability to shoot from the outside and has gained valuable experience at the Division I level with VCU, as well as during her time with perennial powerhouse DME Sports Academy in Florida, where she won a state championship. Mahaila has an infectious personality that will ignite our gym from day one."

A 5-11 guard, Leo becomes just the second British player in UAA women's history, having represented both England and Wales in international competition. From Northampton, England, Leo was the team MVP for the Charnwood College Riders of the WEABL the past two seasons, leading her squad to the Northern Division title last year. She will be an incoming freshman with four years of eligibility at UAA.

Coach Thune says:
 "Brooke is a hard-working wing who will bring length and athleticism to our team. She has enjoyed success internationally in the UK and is mature beyond her years due to the structure of living away from home while pursuing her basketball dreams. She can hit shots from the perimeter, attack mismatches, and battle inside. Her versatility and competitive spirit will allow her to hit the ground running here at UAA."

A 5-5 point guard, Mersburgh comes north from JC power Southern Nevada, where she rewrote the school's assists record book, finishing with 264 in her two-year career and a single-season mark of 167 as a sophomore. A WBCA honorable mention All-American last year, she averaged 6.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.2 steals for a CSN team that went 22-10 and reached the NJCAA Div. I Region 1 playoffs second round. From Ewa Beach, Hawaii, Mersburgh was a first-team all-state performer at Campbell High School, where she led her team to consecutive fourth-place finishes at the HHSAA Div. I state tournament in 2022 and 2023.

Coach Thune says:
 "Faith is a true point guard who impacts the game in a variety of ways. She can score it, has the vision and IQ to set up her teammates, and does a great job of fighting for boards for her size. To bring in a veteran point guard who was the team captain of a 22-win team is huge for us. Coach (Dan) Savage at CSN sings her praises and has done a great job of developing Faith over the past two seasons. Faith is going to be a great representative of UAA women's basketball both on and off the court."

Duffin, Harrison, Leo and Mersburgh bring UAA's newcomer class to six players, joining incoming freshmen Mylee Anderson (5-8, G, Wasilla, Alaska/WHS) and Jennifer Nash (5-5, G, Point Hope, Alaska/Tikigaq HS).