Jan. 5, 2008

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FAIRBANKS,AK- After leading the game for most of the first half, a cold shooting second period cost the Nanooks, as they suffered another frustrating conference loss to Montana State Billings, 60-51. A late defensive stand gave the Blue and Gold hope, but the Yellowjackets proved just as stingy, not allowing Alaska to get any closer than seven points. The loss drops the Nanooks to 7-3 on the season, and 0-2 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.

"It's just disappointing," head coach Lynne Andrew said. "We definitely had plenty of opportunities to win this game. We haven't played up to our abilities, but we are still in these games and we are still competing, so that is what is most frustrating."

Alaska could not find an answer for MSU junior Alira Carpenter, who hit 10 field goals on the night for 27 points. Kayla McPherson and Dani Henderson also contributed 13 and 11 points to the Yellowjackets, respectively.

Junior Cristina Bruketta led the Nanooks with 12 points, all coming from behind the arc as she drained four of her eight three-point attempts. Joscelyn Shumate also enjoyed a fine game for the home side, kicking in 11 points and a team-high seven rebounds while anchoring Alaska's defense with a number of key plays, including two blocks.

Alaska looked to have put Thursday's tough loss to Seattle behind them, opening the game with renewed vigor and energy, running and driving to the basket for lay-ups on each of their first four shots. The team also appeared strong defensively, holding MSU to just 12 points in the first fourteen minutes of play as the Nanooks ran out to a 20-12 edge.

Despite leading most of the first half, however, the Nanooks went cold in the last five minutes. Montana State took advantage, storming back to take a 27-24 lead into the break behind three point shots from McPherson.

Following the restart, however, the Nanooks quickly jumped back ahead, however, behind the hot hand of Bruketta, who hit two long-range three-pointers early in the second half to push the Nanooks into the lead, which they would stretch to five.

Just as soon as the Nanooks seemed to be grabbing the initiative in the game, however, the Yellowjackets snatched it right back. The Yellowjackets suddenly found the range from behind the arc, making four three pointers in a two-minute span to key a 18-0 run that would launch them to a 51-38 lead that they would not relinquish. The Nanooks could shoot just 34.0 percent from the floor for the game, as they slumped to their second straight loss.

"Everyone in [the locker room] is frustrated: they know we are better than we are playing," said Andrew afterwards. "But talk is cheap. We have to be able to put it on the floor. We are 7-3 still, so we are still ok, but we are going on the road now, so we need to be able to fix what is wrong right now."

Alaska now hits the road for their first away games of the conference season, traveling to Seattle Pacific to take on the Falcons on Jan. 10 before a stop at Northwest Nazarene on Jan. 12. The Nanooks return to the Patty Center in two weeks' time for a meeting with Western Oregon on Jan. 17.