Alaska women win fifth straight as they sink Chaminade

Submitted by Carla Browning
Phone: fncjb2@uaf.edu
12/10/07

Alaska women’s basketball stayed hot in the 80-degree temperatures of Hawaii, continuing their winning ways with a 82-60 victory over familiar foes Chaminade in a Monday matinee. Just nine days after dispatching the Silverswords at the Glacier Classic in Anchorage, the Nanooks repeated the feat in Honolulu, as all five starters scored in double-figures.

"This was a tough, physical game, but it is a great win for us to have on the road," head coach Lynne Andrew said. "It’s one thing to beat this team on a neutral court, but to come to their house and play on their home court is a different story. We just tried to keep to our game plan, attack them and continue to battle."

After getting blown out in the first half in Anchorage, Chaminade came out firing this time by, knocking down 63.2 percent of their shots in the opening stanza. Slowly but surely, however, the Nanooks begin to assert control on the game, pulling away for a 14-point halftime lead.

"It’s hot: the temperature said 82 degrees at 1 p.m. in Hawaii, but with the humidity and all, it was closer to 100," head coach Lynne Andrew said. "Because of that, I think we came out a little flat, and they were able to attack and shoot 63 percent on us in the first half. We just stressed defense, emphasized our rotation, and were able to hold them down in the second half."

The Nanooks enjoyed a significant advantage on the boards as well, out-rebounding the Silverswords by a total of 53-24. Alaska finished the game with more offensive rebounds (28) than the hosts had total rebounds.

Junior Sheena Brown led the balanced Nanook attack with 19 points, knocking down eight of her 15 shots from the floor. The Blue and Gold also got a tremendous performance from senior co-captain Joscelyn Shumate, who poured in a career-best 15 points and led the team with four assists.

"I’ve been very impressed with Joscelyn: she has really stepped up this season," said Andrew. "I just told her she didn’t need to anything fancy, just take it to the hole. That’s what she did and they couldn’t stop her. When they started doubling her, she would kick it out to an open teammate. It was a great inside-outside balance, and it was fun to watch everyone getting involved."

Sophomore Sarah Herrin also continued her outstanding second season with the Nanooks by pulling down her first career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, seven of which came on the offensive end.

"Sarah and I both knew she was capable of playing like this," Andrew said. "But I am surprised it happened so quickly. She totally plays bigger than she is. Every time one of her teammates shoots, she is in the paint. She is so strong, she just rips the ball out of other people’s hands. She is just an animal on the boards: I don’t know any other way to put it."

The Silverswords got a game-high 20 points from Marian Murphy, who hit four of her seven shots from behind the arc in a losing cause.

Alaska whirlwind tour of Hawaii concludes on Tuesday, as they face Hawaii-Hilo in an 8 p.m. evening session tomorrow in the team’s final non-conference game of the season.