Women's basketball drops 82-71 decision at Seattle Pacific
January 14, 2013
Jamie Foland
474-6807
Seattle Pacific used a 29-7 run to open the second half and the deficit was too large to overcome as Alaska fell 82-71 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's basketball on Thursday night at Brougham Pavilion.
Three different Falcons (10-3, 4-1 GNAC) scored 18 points apiece, led by Katie Benson, who had a double-double as she brought down a game-best 13 rebounds. Suzanna Ohlsen had 18 points to go with five assists and two steals while Aubree Callen had 18 points, three dimes and a pair of thefts. Brooke Bowen also came out of reserves to contribute 13 points.
SPU shot 44 percent (29-66 FG) for the game and dominated the glass by a 60-35 margin. It also had 20 team rebounds on the offensive end, to Alaska's 16. The Falcons converted on 83 percent (19-23 FT) from the free throw line while the Nanooks (2-10, 0-4) woes from the charity stripe continued with a 61 percent (14-23 FT) success rate.
"The big difference was we were outrebounded heavily on the boards on both offense and defense," head coach Cody Burgess-Bench said. "SPU hit shots down the stretch, we had opportunities but they hit their shots."
Alaska was limited to just 33 percent (25-75 FG) shooting but only turned the ball over 12 times, to SPU's 24. The Nanooks turned the 24 turnovers, 11 by way of steals, into 22 points.
Senior forward Jacqueline Lovato (Gunnison, Colo./Business administration) scored a game- and career-high 19 points after she drained five three-pointers and also had a team-best nine rebounds.
"Her leadership on the court has matured," Burgess said. "Coming in as a senior, she's counting down the games and wants to make the best of it. It's a great example for the younger players and rest of the team. They look to her and she's following through being the player we know she is."
Sophomore guards Benissa Bulaya (Sacramento, Calif./Business administration) and Kelly Logue (Fair Oaks, Calif./Communication) each had 11 points, respectively, and combined for seven assists and four steals.
The game remained tight for much of the first half as the two teams tied four times and the lead changed hands on four occasions. SPU lead 19-12 with 13 minutes to go in the first, but an 11-4 run that spanned three minutes squared the score at 23-23 just past the halfway point. The Falcons regained control with 11 of the game's next 15 points to hold a 34-27 advantage. They led 38-32 at the break.
Seattle Pacific switched into high gear early in the second as it extended its seven-point lead (42-35) with a 25-4 surge in less than six minutes to control the contest at 67-39 with 12 and a half minutes remaining. Trailing 74-44 with over nine minutes to go, Alaska didn't change the game plan and quickly lowered the rather large deficit. The Nanooks outscored the Falcons 27-7, its largest run in GNAC play this year, in about eight minutes, but that would be as close as the 'Nooks could get in the loss.
"We had a fantastic comeback," Burgess said. "We were down 30 so to lose by just 11 and to come back like we did was impressive."
Alaska hits the court again Saturday at 5 p.m. (AKST) when it faces Montana State Billings at Alterowitz Gymnasium. The Yellowjackets (10-3, 4-1 GNAC) downed Alaska Anchorage 78-64 at home earlier Thursday.