In spectacular battle, the Nanook women's basketball team stole the game from the Seawolves 85-83 on Saturday after forcing overtime and a point-for-point free throw game.

"This is a game people will be talking about for a long time," head coach Lynne Andrew said.

Freshman Sarah Herrin made what was essentially the game winning point. The Seawolves fouled her while she scooped up a rebound. Shooting at the free throw line, Herrin missed her first attempt. But on her second shot, Herrin played the ball off of the backboard and into the basket.

Asked if she was nervous about the game winning shot, Herrin replied, "No, never."

She just did what needed to be done, she said.

In the first half, the Nanooks ended the period 41-32 after performing well in front of a cheering fan base of 335 people. Playing offensively, Nanook junior Joscelyn Shumate shot five-for-five in two pointers and pulled the period's high score of 11 points. Also working offense was senior Kari Reabold. She forced foul after foul, allowing her to shoot seven out of eight on the free throw line.

If it wasn't for the Seawolves unheard of team 92.3 free throw percentage, scoring 12 of 13 shots, second period would have been a much easier for the 'Nooks. Storming back from the first period, Seawolves senior Jayci Stone shot a big three for three in the three points. The points allowed UAA to tie the game 51-51 at the 10 minute, 45 second mark.

Pulling back into the game after the Seawolves smothering controlling hand of the second period, 'Nooks fought hard to push overtime by moving the score from 67-69 at 48 seconds to 71-71 at 1.4 seconds. Fans of both teams cheered and jumped to their feet with each shot. Nanook freshman Caitlyn Rohrbach scored two points to force overtime. Flying haphazardly into the excitement of overtime, UAF looked in bad shape as UAA flew past them with a six-point lead at the half.

The game's intensity only grew as a Seawolf elbowed Rohrbach in the face. The Nanook was forced to leave the court because of uncontrollable bleeding from the nose.

But the Seawolves felt karma's sharper side. UAA's Rebecca Kielpinski was forced off the court just as she was about to shoot at the free throw line after she began bleeding from a cut on her right leg.

In the end this game came down to free throws. The shots changed the outcome from an 82-83 win for the Seawolves to an 85-83 win for the 'Nooks in the last 13.9 seconds.

"This was like the best win of the season," Harrin said.

The Nanooks' next games are Thursday and Saturday.