Women's basketball puts on defensive clinic in 55-40 win over WOU
February 22, 2013
Jamie Foland
907-474-6807
Alaska completely shut down Western Oregon, limiting the visitors to 26 percent shooting as it led wire to wire for a 55-40 Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's basketball victory Thursday evening at the Patty Center.
Junior forward Samantha Thornton (Bremerton, Wash./Business administration) posted a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds as well as two blocks to lead the Nanooks (4-20, 2-14 GNAC) to their second straight win while junior guard Marissa Atoruk (Kiana, Alaska/Business administration) came off the bench and provided four threes to finish with 12 points.
Sophomore guard Benissa Bulaya (Sacramento, Calif./Business administration) also chipped in eight points, seven assists and five rebounds and sophomore guard Kelly Logue (Fair Oaks, Calif./Communication) contributed seven points, eight rebounds and a career-high four blocks while senior guard Taylor Altenburg (Elko, Nev./Justice) brought down a game-high 11 rebounds.
Alaska shot just 32 percent (20-62) but held WOU to only 26 percent (16-61) from the floor, including 17 percent (5-29) in the first half. The Nanooks dominated the glass 56-40, including 19-12 on the offensive end. Alaska dished out 15 assists to Western Oregon's six.
The Wolves (8-17, 3-12 GNAC) were paced by Dana Goularte, who posted a double-double as well with 12 points and 10 rebounds and Mariah Durian provided a team-best 13 points off the bench.
The game remained close early but leading 8-7, the Nanooks scored eight straight to go up 16-7 just past the halfway point of the first. WOU cut it back to five with 4:17 to go but after two and a half minutes of neither squad scoring, Alaska was able to close the final 94 seconds with a 6-1 run to lead 24-14 at the break.
Alaska upped its lead to 13 at 31-18 but holding a 33-20 advantage, the Wolves began to chip away at the deficit. A Durian jumper with 13:37 remaining sparked an 8-2 run as the WOU climbed back to within 33-28 midway through the stanza. A couple minutes later, Alaska held a 38-32 lead but back-to-back three balls by Atoruk stated an 8-0 surge to give the Nanooks a 46-32 lead with 6:29 to go, their largest lead to that point.
WOU got back to within six at 46-40 but the Nanooks held the Wolves scoreless for the final 2:55 and ended the game with seven straight points to notch their second win in as many games.
Alaska returns to action for a 1 p.m. matinee Saturday against Saint Martin's. The Saints (12-13, 5-10 GNAC) fell 76-58 earlier Thursday at Alaska Anchorage. That game will be followed by men's basketball's 3:15 meeting with Simon Fraser as part of the Alaska's home triple-header. Hockey will host Michigan State at 7:05 p.m. at the Carlson Center to round out Saturday's festivities.