@AlaskaNanooks report: Jan. 18

January 17, 2018

University Relations

NORDIC SKI
LAST WEEK: at MSU Invite | THIS WEEK: at Utah Invite (Jan. 18-19)
After competing in two Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association competitions at the Montana State University Invitational last weekend, the Alaska Nanooks men’s and women’s Nordic ski teams will remain in West Yellowstone, Montana, to participate in the Utah Invitational this Thursday, Jan. 18, and Saturday, Jan. 19. The Nooks will race in the individual-start, 5/10k classic race on Thursday before competing in the mass-start, 15/20k freestyle race on Friday. Like last week, both races will take place at the Rendezvous Trails and will count toward the RMISA standings.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL | 4-10 Overall, 0-8 GNAC
LAST WEEK: 0-2 | THIS WEEK: at Seattle Pacific (Jan. 18), at Saint Martin’s (Jan. 20)
The Alaska Nanooks women’s basketball team continues to search for their first Great Northwest Athletic Conference victory of the season this week, as they travel to the Pacific Northwest for a pair of conference games on the road. The Nanooks will face the Seattle Pacific Falcons on Thursday, Jan. 18, before taking on the Saint Martin’s Saints on Saturday, Jan. 20. Thursday’s game in Seattle is slated for 6:30 p.m. AKST, while Saturday’s game in Lacey is scheduled for 6 p.m. AKST.

MEN’S BASKETBALL | 7-7 Overall, 5-3 GNAC
LAST WEEK: 2-0 | THIS WEEK: vs. Western Washington (Jan. 18), vs. Simon Fraser (Jan. 20)
After a sweep on the road last week, the Alaska Nanooks men’s basketball team returns to the Alaska Airlines Court for a pair of GNAC matchups this week. The Nanooks host the Western Washington Vikings on Thursday, Jan. 18, at 7 p.m. AKST before taking on the Simon Fraser Clan on Saturday, Jan. 20, at 2 p.m. AKST.

#5 RIFLE
LAST WEEK: 2-0 | THIS WEEK: vs. #10 Ole Miss (Jan. 19), vs. #1 West Virginia (Jan. 21)
After a sweep against Jacksonville State and the Citadel on the road last week, the Alaska Nanooks rifle team returns to the E.F. Horton Rifle Range this week to host some nationally ranked opponents. The No. 5 Alaska Nanooks host the No. 10 Ole Miss Rebels on Friday, Jan. 19, before taking on the defending national champions and No. 1 ranked West Virginia Mountaineers on Sunday, Jan. 21.

HOCKEY | 9-13-2 Overall, 7-10-1-1 WCHA
LAST WEEK: 1-1 | THIS WEEK: at Michigan Tech (Jan. 19-20)
After splitting with the then-No. 8th/6th-ranked Minnesota State Mavericks at home last weekend, the Alaska Nanooks hockey team travels to Houghton, Michigan, to take on the Michigan Tech Huskies in a two-game Western Collegiate Hockey Association series this Friday, Jan. 19, and Saturday, Jan. 20. Both games will take place at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena, with the puck drop scheduled for 3:07 p.m. AKST.

Nanooks men’s basketball named Red Lion/GNAC Team of the Week
On Monday, the Great Northwest Athletic Conference named the Alaska Nanooks men’s basketball team the Red Lion Team of the Week after their pair of road wins last weekend. The Nanooks used a late rally to down Northwest Nazarene 80-74 on Thursday before holding off the Central Washington Wildcats 86-83 on Saturday for their third-straight win. The Nanooks now sit tied for third place in the GNAC standings with Seattle Pacific, both with a league record of 5-3.

Hockey’s Frye named WCHA Defenseman of the Week
Frye was a factor on both ends of the ice last weekend, as the Alaska Nanooks hockey team earned a split with the now-No. 8/9th-ranked Minnesota State Mavericks in Fairbanks last weekend to be named the Western Collegiate Hockey Association’s Defensive Player of the Week. Frye led all league D-men in goals (2), power play goals (2) and game-winning goals (1), while ranking second with eight blocked shots. The Spokane, Washington, native scored Alaska’s first and last goals in Friday’s 5-0 victory over the Mavericks. Frye’s PPG at 11:23 of the first period marks his second game-winning goal in Alaska’s last four games.

Ravn Alaska Nanooks of the Week (Jan. 16)
On Monday, the Alaska Nanooks sports information office declared senior Kate Mathews (swimming) and junior forward Alex Baham (men’s basketball) the Jan. 16 selections for the female and male Ravn Alaska Nanooks of the Week, respectively, for their performances in the pool and on the court last weekend.

Kate Mathews (Senior | Portland, Oregon)
Mathews was named the Pacific Collegiate Swimming and Diving Conference’s NCAA Division II Female Swimmer of the Week after an impressive showing at Loyola Marymount’s Lion’s Cup in Los Angeles last weekend. Mathews won each of her individual events, including the 200-yard individual medley (2:11.19), the 400-yard individual medley (4:38.64) and the 200-yard butterfly (2:11.84). Mathews also anchored the Nooks in the 200-yard medley relay, the 400-yard medley relay, the 200-yard freestyle relay and the 400-yard freestyle relay.

Alex Baham (Junior | Forward | Wasilla, Alaska)
Baham’s performance helped the Nanooks men’s basketball team earn the Red Lion/GNAC Team of the Week after they defeated the Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks 80-74 on Thursday before holding off the Central Washington Wildcats 86-83 on Saturday. Baham led his team offensively in both games, posting 17 points against NNU before tallying 22 on Saturday. Over the weekend, Baham shot 11-for-18 from the field, 9-for-16 from beyond the arc and went 8-for-8 from the free throw line, while also chipping in five rebounds and five assists.

Nanooks Men’s Basketball’s Kluting to be on GNAC Insider
Alaska Nanooks men’s basketball sophomore forward Michael Kluting will be featured on this week’s GNAC Insider radio show hosted by Rob Lowery. The show begins at 6 p.m. AKST; the link to listen is here.

#StickIt2Cancer

On Saturday, the Alaska Nanooks announced that Nanook hockey's junior defenseman Jack Weiss will miss the remainder of the 2017-2018 season to undergo chemotherapy treatment for testicular cancer. The Alaska Nanooks will keep supporters informed with updates and information on how you can support Weiss throughout the upcoming months. Use the hashtag #StickIt2Cancer to support Jack and his fight.

Can’t make it to a game?
All Alaska Nanooks volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball games (home and away) can be followed through the Alaska Nanooks Stretch Internet Portal free of charge. Fans can follow the games through the live stream, live stats or both.

All Alaska Nanook hockey games (home and away) can be heard live through ESPN 820AM Fairbanks or online at 820sports.com. Additionally, fans have the option to watch the games live for a small fee on WCHA.tv.

Follow the Nanooks
Keep up with your favorite Alaska Nanooks teams and players in their weekly practices, community service projects and in-game updates through social media.

Alaska Nanooks: @alaskananooks (Twitter) | Alaska Nanooks (Facebook) | alaskananooks  (Instagram)
MXC/WXC & MSKI/WKI: @AlaskaNanooksXC (Twitter) |Alaska Nanooks XC (FB)
HOCKEY: @NanooksHockey (Twitter) | Alaska Nanooks Hockey (FB)
MBB: @NanooksMBB (Twitter)
RIFLE: Alaska Nanooks Rifle (FB)
SWIM: @NanooksSwim (Twitter) | Alaska Nanooks Swimming (FB)
VB: @NanooksVB (Twitter) | Alaska Nanooks Volleyball (FB)
WBB: @NanooksWBB (Twitter) | Alaska Nanooks Women’s Basketball (FB)