Boxscore

NAMPA, Idaho - The University of Alaska Anchorage, ranked 15th-nationally and 5th in the NCAA D.II West Region, escaped with a 61-60 victory over Northwest Nazarene on Saturday night in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference game at the Johnson Sports Center.

 

Trailing 38-31 with 16:51 to play in the second half, the Seawolves (19-5, 10-3 GNAC) used a 12-0 run that included back-to-back three-pointers by Nikki Aden, to storm from behind and claim a five-point lead at 43-38. 

 

The Crusaders (12-9, 7-6 GNAC) responded with five-straight off a triple by Heather Adams and a steal and lay-in from Alla Dzhidzhiyeshvili to knot the score at 43-43 and would go on to lead by five at 58-53 with three minutes to play following a Beth Johnson bucket inside.

 

A tough jumper by Kaitlin McBride pulled UAA within three at 58-55 with 2:00 to play, but Megan Hingston answered with a short jumper in the paint with 1:43 remaining to push the lead back to five at 60-55. 

 

McBride would answer the call for UAA, scoring the games final six points on a lay-in, two free throws, and the game winner with 20 seconds to play down the left side of the lane.

 

Monica Garcia missed a three point attempt for the Crusaders with five seconds on the clock but the rebound went out of bounds to NNU.  However, a deflection on the inbounds pass turned the ball over to the Seawolves, ending the Crusaders threat.

 

Hanna Johansson scored a game-high 18 points for UAA, while Garcia paced the Crusaders with 16 points and matched Johansson on the glass with a game-high nine rebounds each.

 

Hingston provided the Crusaders with a solid all-around effort as the Freshman scored 14, had six rebounds, four assists, three steals, three blocked shots and did not commit a turnover in 30 minutes of action.

 

Johnson also reached double-figures for NNU with 11 and had six rebounds.  The Crusaders handed out 17 assists against 18 turnovers, led by Adams with a game-high six assists.

 

McBride joined Johansson in double-digits with 13 and both Alysa Horn and Aden scored 11.

 

Out-rebounding the Seawolves 22 to 13 in the opening half, UAA responded on the glass in the second frame, finishing the game with a 35 to 29 edge on the 'boards. 

 

The Crusaders will travel to Seattle Pacific (2/10) and Montana State Billings (2/12) next weekend for a pair of GNAC counters on the road.