Women's basketball welcomes in MSUB and SPU
February 6, 2013
Jamie Foland
907-474-6807
Back Home in Search of GNAC Win #1
The Nanooks return home this week as they play host to Montana State Billings Thursday at 7 p.m. and Seattle Pacific Saturday at 3 p.m. Saturday's contest will be the annual Play 4Kay game, so be sure to wear PINK! Live stats and live video are available for both games while Thursday's match-up with MSUB can also be heard on KCBF 820 AM.
Nanooks at a Glance
Alaska currently sits 2-17 on the season with a 0-11 mark in GNAC play entering this week's home stand. Saturday's loss at Simon Fraser extended Alaska's losing skid to 10 games and its GNAC losing streak to 20 straight. The last GNAC win for the Nanooks was back on Jan. 21, 2012, when they downed Western Oregon 69-68 at home.
Taylor Altenburg leads the team with 10.7 points and 6.2 rebounds per game while Jacqueline Lovato scores 8.2 points to go with 4.9 rebounds per outing. Benissa Bulaya also contributes 7.9 points and 2.9 assists per contest. Alaska scores 62.1 points per game while allowing its opponents to average 73.7 points per game.
Alaska Drops a Pair at WWU and SFU
Alaska led 19-16 in the first but back-to-back three pointers by WWU sparked a 22-5 run to end the half and the Vikings never looked back en route to a 77-48 win. Two nights later, Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe posted a strong double-double with 26 points and 16 rebounds and Simon Fraser downed Alaska 71-55.
Taylor Altenburg and Benissa Bulaya each scored 13.0 points per game while Jacqueline Lovato and Kelly Logue both averaged 8.0 points per outing. Altenburg also had 7.5 rebounds while Bulaya had 5.0 assists and 2.5 steals per contest. Logue also contributed a team-high 3.5 steals.
How We Rank in the GNAC
Taylor Altenburg ranks 18th in the league in scoring and 12th in rebounding. Benissa Bulaya is fourth in shooting percentage (.500) and steals (2.4) and 11th in assists. Kelly Logue is seventh in steals (2.3) and Altenburg is tied for 10th in the same category (2.0) while she also places eighth in free throw percentage (.769), tied for 10th in blocks (0.7) and 17th in shooting (.407). Jacqueline Lovato is also tied for 11th in three pointers per game (1.6) while Samantha Thornton is tied for 18th in blocks (0.5).
Scouting the Yellowjackets
Montana State Billings completed its three-game home stand with a trio of victories as it improved to 14-5 on the year and 8-3 in GNAC play. Last week, MSUB downed Western Oregon (62-55) and Saint Martin's (75-41). The Yellowjackets average 70.4 points while holding their opponents to 62.7 points. Bobbi Knudsen is the league's second-leading scorer with 17.6 points per game while Kayleen Goggins is 14th with 12.5 points per outing. Janiel Olson produces 9.3 points and 8.7 rebounds, which ranks third in the GNAC. Knudsen leads the conference in assists (6.3) and is tied for eighth in steals (2.1) while Olson is fifth in steals (2.4) and Monica Grimsrud is tied for eighth in blocks (1.0).
Scouting the Falcons
Seattle Pacific won both of its home games last week over Saint Martin's (71-67) and Western Oregon (64-55) to improve its record to 12-7 on the year and 6-5 in the GNAC. SPU averages 70.7 points while allowing its foes to score 66.5 per game. Katie Benson is seventh with 14.9 points per game and Suzanna Ohlsen is 11th in scoring (13.2) while Aubree Callen is 13th (12.6). Benson is also fifth in rebounding (8.0) and ninth in free throw shooting (.765).Ohlsen is fourth from the free throw line (.893) sixth with 3.7 assists while Callen is fifth from the stripe (.880) and 10th (2.9) in the dishing department. In addition, Ohlsen leads the GNAC in three-point shooting (.471) while Callen is third (.413) from long range.
Alaska Nanooks Women's Basketball
Game 20 vs. Montana State Billings (14-5, 8-3 GNAC)
Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013 | 7 p.m. | Patty Center
Live Stats Live Audio Live Video
Game 21 vs. Seattle Pacific (12-7, 6-5 GNAC)
Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013 | 3 p.m. | Patty Center
Live Stats Live Video
Video Preview