Women's basketball wins first GNAC game, 73-70, at Central Washington
February 19, 2013
Jamie Foland
907-474-6807
Three players scored in double figures and Alaska outshot Central Washington on its way to the Nanooks' first Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's basketball win of the season, 73-70, Saturday night at Nicholson Pavilion.
The Nanooks (3-20, 1-14 GNAC) ended a 13-game losing streak and 23-game losing skid in GNAC games while defeating the Wildcats (9-13, 4-10 GNAC) for the first time in five tries.
"We've been playing well, so tonight, we were prepared and focused," head coach Cody Burgess-Bench said. "We did the little things. We hit shots and broke down Central's defense. We worked the clock the right way and it helped."
Junior forward Samantha Thornton (Bremerton, Wash./Business administration) scored a season-high 16 points on a perfect 6-of-6 shooting, which including two three pointers. She also had seven rebounds in the win. Senior guard Taylor Altenburg (Elko, Nev./Justice) had 13 points, seven boards and five assists. Sophomore guard Kelly Logue (Fair Oaks, Calif./Communication) contributed 10 points, three blocks, seven assists and four steals while sophomore guard Benissa Bulaya (Sacramento, Calif./Business administration) added seven points, seven assists and five boards.
"They are playing together and have recognized their strengths the last three games," Burgess-Bench said. "We were in rhythm but they focused and were hungry and did well."
Alaska shot 47 percent (27-58) for the game and drained eight threes to finish 47 percent from beyond the arc (8-17) while holding Central to 41 percent (28-68) shooting and 29 percent (6-21) from three-point land. The squads tied the rebounding war 39-39 but CWU had a 16-14 edge on the offensive glass. The Nanooks had 20 assists on 27 field goals but struggled from the free throw line, converting just 46 percent (11-24) of their attempts.
The Wildcats were led by Taylor Fettig, who came off the bench for a game-best 18 points while Jasmin Parker and Ally Schmitt had 15 and 14 points, respectively. Schmitt also brought down a game-high eight rebounds while dishing out a team-high six dimes. Parker also made three blocks.
Alaska surged out to an early 10-2 lead just over five minutes into the contest but Central answered with a 12-4 run to knot it up at 14. The Nanooks rebuilt the lead to eight at 24-16 but the Wildcats came right back with a 12-3 run of their own to grab a 28-27 lead with just under five to go until halftime. A Thornton trey with six ticks left gave the 'Nooks a 36-33 lead at the break.
The Nanooks upped the advantage to seven at 44-37 but the 'Cats scored 10 of the next 13 points to square the game at 47 with 13:48 remaining. Trailing by two, Central had a Parker jumper and an old-fashioned three-point play by Fettig that gave the hosts a 52-49 lead one minute later.
Alaska came back with 11 straight points in 3:20 to reclaim the lead 60-52 with 8:10 left. The Nanooks led by 10 at 66-56 with just over four minutes to go but the Wildcats surged all the way to finish. Trailing 69-62 with under a minute to go Jessica Van Dyke drained a three with 48 seconds left. After Altenburg went 1-for-2 from the line, Parker hit a trey to trim the Nanooks' lead to 70-68 with 33 to go.
Thornton made 1-of-2 from the strip and Schmitt's layup with 24 ticks to go brought Central to within one at 71-70. Logue got to the line and missed one of two but a turnover by Schmitt with four seconds left clinched the game sealed the win.
"It's been a very up-and-down season emotionally and with our personnel," Burgess-Bench said. "It's been a learning experience on all levels. They want to finish in a way that makes them proud and I think they feel that and are enjoying that."
Alaska returns home next week to take on Western Oregon Thursday at 5:15 p.m. and Saint Martin's Saturday at 1 p.m.