NAMPA, Idaho – Northwest Nazarene women's basketball is set to open the 2022 portion of their schedule this weekend after a couple of weeks off for break, hosting a pair of big GNAC games against the Alaska programs.
Game Information
NNU (8-3, 2-1 GNAC) vs Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks (1-6, 0-2 GNAC)
Thursday, Jan. 6 | 7:00 PM | Nampa, Idaho | Johnson Sports Center
Live Video | Live Stats
NNU (8-3, 2-1 GNAC) vs #11 Alaska Anchorage Seawolves (8-1, 1-0 GNAC)
Saturday, Jan. 8 | 7:00 PM | Nampa, Idaho | Johnson Sports Center
Live Video | Live Stats
Nighthawks Notes
- NNU is riding their second four-game win streak of the season, having won eight of their last nine contests.
- The Nighthawks are currently ranked eighth in the D2SIDA West Region rankings, the highest they have been slotted this season.
- NNU routed first-year program Lincoln (CA) 99-47 in their last game on Dec. 17, recording multiple stunning stats in the victory. Teagan Thurman led the Nighthawks with 21 points and 16 rebounds, Cami Knishka notched a career-best 12 assists, and Ashlynn Sylve (6) and Emma Clark (5) each eclipsed the five-steal mark. As a team, NNU pulled down a whopping 66 rebounds, dished out 25 assists, and notched 20 steals.
- When NNU holds opponents under 70 points, they are 7-1. When NNU scores 70 or more, they are 5-0.
- The Nighthawks are undefeated (4-0) at home this season.
- If NNU forces more turnovers than they commit, they are 5-0 in such games on the season.
- Teagan Thurman has only started one game this year and plays just 18.3 minutes per game, but the sophomore forward is nearly averaging a double-double with 11.7 points and 9.5 rebounds per contest. The rebounding mark is second in the GNAC. She has also recorded four double-doubles on the season.
- Freshman Ashlynn Sylve is in the top five in the GNAC in both field goal percentage (56.3) and steals (2.0 per game).
- Nyalam Thabach leads the Nighthawks with 12.3 points per game, shooting 52.8% from the field, 80% from the free throw line, and has made all three triples she has attempted. She also pulls down 7.2 rebounds per game and has notched eight blocks.
- Erin Jenkins is the only Nighthawk to have started all 11 games, averaging a 25.8 minutes per game mark that is second on the team. She is third on the squad with 9.5 points per game and 5.1 boards per contest.
- As a team, NNU leads the GNAC in rebounding with 42.5 per game.
Series History
- Against Alaska Fairbanks, NNU is 33-5 since joining Division II in 2001. The Nighthawks are 17-2 in the games played in Nampa and have won 11-straight meetings dating back to the 2015 season and 26 of the last 27 matchups. In the last meeting on Feb. 8, 2020, NNU defeated UAF 93-72 at home behind 16 points from Erin Jenkins.
- Against Alaska Anchorage, NNU is 16-26 since joining Division II in 2001. The Nighthawks are 10-9 in the games played in Nampa, but are just 3-7 in the last 10 meetings. UAA took the last matchup on Feb. 6, 2020, defeating NNU 68-54 in Nampa.
Scouting the Nanooks
- The Nanooks have stumbled out of the gates in 2021-22, entering the week 1-6 overall and 0-2 in GNAC play, falling to Saint Martin's in their lone conference game.
- Two players average double figure scoring, with Pearle Green at 13.9 points per game and Destiny Reimers at 12.3 points per game. Green leads the GNAC with 36.3 minutes per game.
- Reimers also leads the team with 6.1 rebounds per game. Paola Perez-Mendoza leads the GNAC with 3.3 steals per game and ranks third in the conference with 4.0 assists per game.
- As a team, the Nanooks are last in the conference in scoring defense, field goal percentage, three-point percentage, free throw percentage, and rebounding.
Scouting the Seawolves
- The Seawolves have raced out to an 8-1 mark and 1-0 GNAC record, with their only loss coming in their most recent game at Hawaii Hilo on Dec. 19.
- UAA is ranked 11th in the country by the WBCA, ninth by D2SIDA, and second in the D2SIDA West Region poll.
- No Seawolves average double figure points, but they have eight players averaging between 5.8 and 9.6 points per game, led by Nicole Pinkney's 9.6.
- Pinkney is also fifth in the conference with a 40.6 three-point percentage and fourth with 3.7 assists per game.
- Tennae Voliva is second in the GNAC with 2.2 steals per game, third on the team with 8.9 points per game, and leads UAA with 5.4 rebounds per game and five blocks.
- The Seawolves are second in the GNAC with 72.8 points per game and 54.0 points allowed per game, leading to a +18.8 scoring margin.
- UAA leads the GNAC with 12.0 steals per game and a +9.22 turnover margin, and is second in the conference with 16.2 assists per game.
