Last week was a great week for UAF basketball as two Nanooks earned GNAC player-of-the-week honors.  Adrienne Taalak had an incredible 73 points on the week, including 37 in the team's big upset win against Western Washington.  She finished with 11 rebounds, nine steals, 11 three-pointers, and perfect free throw shooting.  Taalak is nationally ranked in four different categories, including sixth in the nation with an average of 3.0 three-point field goals made per game.  This is her second time as GNAC player of the week, no doubt making the folks back in Nuiqsut very proud. 

Meanwhile, North Pole native Brad Oleson, helped the Nanooks extend their winning streak to six games by collecting 52 points, nine assists, 13 rebounds and nine steals.  Oleson is also one of the top players in the country: his average of 22.0 points per game places him 13^th in the nation, and this is his third time this season as GNAC player of the week.  

Facing the struggling Saint Martin's Saints, the Nanooks opened Thursday's men's basketball game with a furious 18 unanswered points, earning them a 21-7 lead after less than ten minutes of play.  Too much passing and poor shooting by the Nanooks let the Saints come back to tie the game five minutes into the second half, but then Oleson tossed up an ally-oop that Andrew Smith threw down with authority, bringing the Saints to their knees.  The Saints merely begged for mercy as every Nanook managed to score at least one point in the 94-67 victory.  With the conference tournament approaching, the men's team is looking for a strong finish to the season.

Saturday was senior night, the last home game of the season, where the Nanooks honored Ryan Jones and Jocquis Sconiers before their contest with the Central Washington Wildcats.  Jones had one of the best games I have seen him play, going 9-12 and leading the team with 25 total points.  The Nanooks led 42-35 at the half in a game that was never really in doubt, going on to win by a score of 90-83.  The most memorable moment came with 7:30 left in the second half when a field goal by Oleson brought him over 1000 points for his career.  Only a junior, Oleson seems destined to be remembered as one of the greatest players in Nanook basketball history.

Head coach Al Sokaitis is doubtlessly looking forward to the upcoming NCAA division II West Regional Men's Basketball Championship.  Currently, the Nanooks are ranked second the GNAC standing, and fifth in the latest NCAA West Regional poll.  If the Nanooks continue to play as well as they have been lately, they have the ability to put on an impressive performance.  The Nanooks final three games are on the road and news about their progress can be found either at www.gonanooks.com or at www.gnacsports.com. 

Photo by Stephanie Taylor

Junior Brad Oleson goes up for a layup against Central Washington Saturday in the Patty Center. The Nanooks defeated the Wildcats 90-83 to continue an eight game winning streak. Oleson scored 18 points during the game taking his career points to over 1,000. 

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