NAMPA - Shooting a season-low 31 percent from the floor, the Northwest Nazarene University women's basketball team fell 52-50 to No.7 University of Alaska Anchorage on Thursday night in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference game in Nampa.

“I am proud of our effort,” commented NNU head coach Kelli Lindley.  “They did everything we asked them to, executed the game plan, played solid defense…but we just couldn't make baskets.”

NNU shot 31 percent (18-58) for the game and just 25 percent (7-28) in the opening half, but trailed just 22-20 at the break, holding UAA to 8-of-23 shooting to open the game. 

 

The Crusaders would trail by as many as 10 in the second half, but would rally to tie the score at 50-50 with 3:24 left to play on a pair of Nicki Schutte free throws.  It would prove to be the final points for the Crusaders, who would finish 0-for-4 in the final minutes, including a three point attempt by Kristin Hein at the buzzer that sailed left of the rim.

 

UAA's Rebecca Kielpinski earned the game-winning basket, a jumper with 2:11 left to play, as Alaska Anchorage, ranked 7th in this week's WBCA NCAA D.II national poll, improved to 14-1 overall and 3-0 in GNAC play.

 

The Crusaders fall to 8-4 overall and 1-2 in league action.

UAA's Maria Nilsson led all scorers with 15 points and Rebecca Kielpinski grabbed a game-high nine rebounds and scored eight points.  Kalhe Quinones also reached double-figures for the Seawolves with 10.

Brittney Roggenkamp led the Crusaders with 14 points, while Nicki Schutte led the effort on the boards with eight.

 

NNU will now host Alaska Fairbanks on Saturday at 7 p.m. in a GNAC counter.

 

Newspaper Box Score
Alaska Anchorage vs Northwest Nazarene
1/10/08 7pm at Nampa,Idaho
At Nampa,Idaho
ALASKA ANCHORAGE 52, NORTHWEST NAZARENE 50
ALASKA ANCHORAGE (3-0, 14-1)
Nilsson,Maria 5-10 0-0 15; Quinones,Kalhie 4-7 1-4 10; Kielpinski,Rebecca
4-10 0-1 8; Thompson,Ashley 1-4 4-4 6; Dekel,Danielle 2-8 0-1 4;
Pelleg,Limor 1-2 0-0 3; Salazar,Jennifer 1-3 0-0 2; Basova,Dasha 1-2 0-0 2;
Harris,Elisha 1-1 0-0 2; Parks,Lillie 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 20-49 5-10 52.
NORTHWEST NAZARENE (1-2, 8-4)
Roggenkamp,Brittney 5-11 0-0 14; Hein,Kristin 3-14 1-2 9; Schutte,Nichole
3-9 2-2 9; Williams,Jennifer 2-9 2-2 6; Olds,Janee 1-3 0-0 3; Johnson,Beth
1-2 1-2 3; Whipple,Mallory 1-2 0-0 2; Brady,Lindsay 1-4 0-0 2; Oliver,Krista
1-3 0-0 2; Knudson,Paige 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 18-58 6-8 50.
Alaska Anchorage..............   22   30  -   52
Northwest Nazarene............   20   30  -   50
3-point goals-Alaska Anchorage 7-18 (Nilsson,Maria 5-9; Quinones,Kalhie 1-1;
Pelleg,Limor 1-1; Dekel,Danielle 0-4; Basova,Dasha 0-1; Thompson,Ashley
0-2), Northwest Nazarene 8-20 (Roggenkamp,Brittney 4-9; Hein,Kristin 2-3;
Schutte,Nichole 1-1; Olds,Janee 1-2; Oliver,Krista 0-2; Knudson,Paige 0-1;
Whipple,Mallory 0-1; Johnson,Beth 0-1). Fouled out--Alaska Anchorage-None,
Northwest Nazarene-Schutte,Nichole. Rebounds-Alaska Anchorage 36
(Kielpinski,Rebecca 9), Northwest Nazarene 37 (Schutte,Nichole 8).
Assists-Alaska Anchorage 12 (Parks,Lillie 3), Northwest Nazarene 14
(Schutte,Nichole 4). Total fouls-Alaska Anchorage 13, Northwest Nazarene 16.
A-407