Smooth second half leads Alaska to first conference victory

Submitted by Tom Myrick
Phone: 907-474-6805
01/17/08

A second-half surge pushed Alaska to their first Great Northwest Athletic Conference victory of the season, snapping the team’s four-game losing streak in the process, as they knocked off Western Oregon, 77-60. The Nanooks turned on the style after a scrappy first half that neither side will feel best illustrated their full potential.

Toyota Player of the Game Joscelyn Shumate had a monster game for the Nanooks, leading by example on both ends of the court in setting new career-highs with 20 points and five blocked shots. Shumate also pulled down eight rebounds, and was a vital figure in the Nanooks second-half fightback.

Alaska would also get a game-high 24 points from Sheena Brown; the Lathrop graduate leading the team in scoring for the third straight game. Brown also assumed responsibility for guarding GNAC leading scorer Leada Berkey, holding her to just eight of 20 shooting from the floor.

"We switched up our defense in the second half, going to man-to-man, and I think the girls got this new energy with that," head coach Lynne Andrew said. "We really talked and worked together as a team: that last 20 minutes was probably the best we have played together as a team. I am proud of them for that."

Once again, the Nanooks were a bit slow coming out of the gates, falling behind quickly to the Wolves 10-0. Head coach Lynne Andrew stayed calm, however, and help urge her team back into the game.

"We just tried to stay positive, made a couple of adjustments and focus on what we were doing wrong in our defense," she said. "I think once things started to click on the defensive end, then we were fine."

While the play and senior leadership of Reabold and Shumate kept the Nanooks in the game in the first half, they couldn’t quite seem to get their noses in front, as Western Oregon had an answer for every Alaska point. Though a bucket from Shumate finally drew the Nanooks level with just under four minutes to play, Berkey connected on a three-point play and two big three-pointers from Claire Carpenter pushed the Wolves lead to 35-32 at the break.

The game picked up considerably in the second half, however, as the Nanooks began to find their rhythm. Five quick points from Brown pushed the Nanooks to their first lead the game with just over 14 minutes to play. The two teams traded buckets, seeing the lead change hands on five straight possessions before Alaska begin to take control. Reabold knocked down a mid-range jumper, and Shumate connected on a 12-footer to push the Blue and Gold advantage to ten.

Brown then capped off the Nanooks run by finding Reabold on the fast break, producing a clever pass to the senior co-captain for an easy lay-in that put the game beyond doubt.

For the Wolves, Berkey finished with a team-high 19 points, grabbing 13 rebounds as well to complete her double-double. Vanessa Wyffels also had 14 points before fouling out late in the second half.

The Nanooks now hope to continue their winning ways as they return to the Patty Center floor on Saturday to take on Saint Martin’s. Tip-off in that game will take place at the conclusion of the men’s basketball game against Central Washington, which starts at 2 p.m.