Alaska rides second half surge to win over Texas

Submitted by Tom Myrick
Phone: 907-474-6805
12/07/07

An impressive second half performance saw the Alaska women’s basketball team soar to their highest point total of the season, as they blasted University of Texas of the Permian Basin, 94-70. After seeing a six-point halftime lead erased within three minutes of the restart, the Nanooks exploded for 55 points in the last 20 minutes, including a 33-7 run that put the game beyond all reasonable doubt.

"I told them at halftime that I thought we were giving up too many shots, especially on the perimeter," head coach Lynne Andrew said afterwards. "I just wanted more pressure on them, and so we turned up the pressure, got involved as a team, and things just started clicking."

Sheena Brown led the way for the Nanooks, putting up 22 points, 13 of which came in the decisive second half. Kari Reabold also recorded the team’s first double-double of the season, getting 10 points to go along with 10 boards and five steals (which ties her career-high).

But it was the inside play of freshman Nicole Bozek that caught the eye of the Patty Center crowd. Bozek was strong and positive around the basket all night for the Nanooks, hitting every one of the nine shots she attempted (7-7 from the field, 2-2 on free throws) on her way to 16 points, seven rebounds and Toyota Player of the Game honors.

"She [Bozek] has just continued to step up every day," said Andrew. "Every day in practice, she wants to know what she needs to do to get better. I tell her things to work on and she goes out there and gets it done: that’s all you can ask."

"I always just try to work my hardest, and if it works out, it works out," Bozek said. "I feel strong about the way I played tonight, and hopefully it carries on."

It was the visitors, however, who made the brighter start to the game. Two early three-pointers from the Falcons’ Crystal Johnson and Emma Fradette put the Nanooks in an early 8-1 hole.

Alaska soon began to get their bearings, however, after weathering the early storm. After scoring 19 points in both of the Blue and Gold’s last home games, Kari Reabold turned provider in this one, sliding a smart backdoor pass to Sarah Herrin for an easy bucket before finding Amonda Francis with long ball for a score.

The Nanooks also began to make the most of their height advantage, as Bozek, Amonda Francis and Joscelyn Shumate all begin to make their presence felt around the bucket. Alaska finished the game with an amazing 52 points in the paint, compared to just 12 for UTPB.

But the Falcons would not go quietly, and continued to make life uncomfortable for Andrew and the Nanooks, especially as two quick three-pointers saw them level the scores just after halftime.

From there, however, it was all Nanooks. Three quick points from Reabold, a putback from Sarah Herrin, and a three-point play from Brown ignited the Blue and Gold, as they went on to shoot 54.1 percent in the second half in putting the game out of UTPB’s reach.

The win gives Alaska the perfect springboard for their three-game road trip to Hawaii. "We are playing so well right now," said Andrew. "I am so proud of them. Everyone’s getting involved, and it’s a different person stepping up every night. It feels great."

The Nanooks head for a whirlwind tour of the islands on Saturday, as they take on BYU-Hawaii before making stops at Chaminade and Hawaii-Hilo next Monday and Tuesday. The team returns to the Patty Center on Jan. 3, where they will open their conference schedule against Seattle.