After his team delivered an 89-47 smackdown to win another Great Alaska Shootout game, UAA women's basketball coach Tim Moser said one of the goals against Coastal Carolina was to not turn over the ball on the opening possession.

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"We didn't, did we?" he asked senior forward Tamar Gruwell. "I think we even got off a shot."

Not just a shot, but a power move from Nicci Miller, who converted Nikki Aden's pass into a basket 13 seconds into the game.

And the rout was on.

As it turned out, it was Coastal Carolina that needed to protect the ball better.

After Miller's opening bucket, the Seawolves went to work on defense, which is to say they swarmed, hounded and pressed Coastal Carolina without mercy. By the end of Tuesday's tournament opener at Sullivan Arena, UAA had forced two dozen turnovers, 17 of them coming on steals, and completely demoralized the Colonels, a veteran team that hung with No. 4-ranked North Carolina for a half last week before losing 88-49.

The Seawolves, ranked eighth in Division II, beat them even worse.

UAA dominated in every way possible, and Coastal Carolina did itself no favors, missing some open shots early to sink into a game-long shooting funk (15 of 52 for 29 percent).

Even before halftime, the Colonels' body language spoke of defeat.

"We got whipped every way you could get whipped, and I was embarrassed," said Colonels coach Alan LeForce, a 74-year-old legend.

"We missed shot after shot and got our heads down, and they took it to us. They are a very physical basketball team and they knock and bang you, and we didn't respond. We became intimidated."

UAA drew three fouls in the first two minutes for its body-on-body defense, but the referees generally let the teams play.

The physicality got to the Colonels quickly, and between that and the poor shooting -- they missed their nine first shots as UAA raced to an 8-1 lead -- they looked like a defeated bunch.

"I'd send one sub in, and two wanted to come out," LeForce said.

Smelling blood, the Seawolves pounced.

Gruwell, Kiki Taylor and Hanna Johansson hustled for some early steals and everyone in a UAA uniform basically made life miserable for the Colonels anytime they had the ball.

"When you play a team that's big, you have to play hard and be aggressive," Gruwell said.

A pressure defense spearheaded by Taylor and Gruwell let the Seawolves run the court and kept Coastal Carolina, which has six players six feet tall or taller, from establishing a half-court offense for much of the game.

"If we're going to play without a true post, we have to initiate our will on people," Moser said. "We had to pressure their guards and not let them get into a half-court game. The starting five did a tremendous job right out of the gate."

The Seawolves set the pace from the word go. They scored 10 straight to lead 12-1 and were up 34-9 with about seven minutes left in the half.

Miller, a 5-10 senior, shot like a dream, hitting 10 of 14 for a career-high 24 points -- the third game in a row she's put up a career-high. She oozed confidence while hitting 4 of 6 from 3-point range and at times looking unstoppable inside, scoring on drives and put-backs.

"I'm an emotional player, and when my adrenaline gets going and I get on a roll, it's kind of scary for the other team," Miller said.

Those words may wind up on an opponent's chalkboard some day, but the comment was soft-spoken and it elicited a laugh from Moser and Gruwell. But the truth is, when Miller is on, good things are going to happen for the Seawolves.

Taylor and Gruwell also had fine games, with Taylor getting 12 points, three assists and three steals, and Gruwell getting 14 points and four steals. She hit one of her 3s from beyond the men's 3-point line and drew a foul to boot for a four-point play in the second half.

Aden finished with 10 points and four assists and a total of 12 players scored.

Only two players scored in double figures for Coastal Carolina -- Jessica Noll and Sydnei Moss, both with 10.

The win makes Moser 7-0 in four Shootouts. Ever since he's been the Seawolves coach, UAA has cut down the nets at the tournament's end.

The Seawolves get a chance to make it four titles in a row today at 5 when they meet Cincinnati.

Beth Bragg can be reached at 257-4335.

Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout

UAA 89, COASTAL CAROLINA 47

UAA -- Miller 10-14 0-0 24, Aden 3-8 4-4 10, Johansson 2-3 0-0 4, Taylor 5-8 0-1 12, Gruwell 4-7 3-3 14, Collins 1-1 0-0 2, Nenbee 0-1 0-0 0, Martin 0-0 0-0 0, Stepovich 2-5 0-0 6, McBride 0-1 1-2 1, Horn 0-0 2-3 2, Herrin 2-3 0-0 5, Wohlers 0-0 1-2 1, Larsen 0-1 0-0 0, Gourdin 4-9 0-0 8. Totals: 33-61 11-15 89.

Coastal Carolina -- Rivers 1-1 2-4 4, Noll 4-15 0-0 10, Ahaus 2-3 1-2 5, Stull 0-0 0-0 0, Moss 2-13 5-6 10, Grochowski 0-2 0-0 0, Irick 3-6 2-2 9, Reynolds 2-5 0-0 4, Epley 1-6 1-2 3, Weaver 0-1 2-3 2. Totals: 21-57 17-21 66.

Three-point goals -- UAA 12-25 (Miller 4-6, Gruwell 3-5, Taylor 2-4, Stepovich 2-4, Herrin 1-2, Aden 0-2, Larsen 0-1, Gourdin 0-1); Coastal Carolina 4-16 (Noll 2-9, Moss 1-2, Irick 1-3, Epley 0-1, Weaver 0-1). Total fouls -- UAA 21, Coastal Carolina 17. Fouled out -- none. Rebounds -- UAA 35 (Miller 6); Coastal Carolina 33 (Noll 6). Assists -- UAA 20 (Aden 4), Coastal Carolina 8 (Ahaus 5). Steals -- UAA 17 (Gruwell 4); Coastal Carolina 5 (Ahaus 2). Blocked shots -- UAA 2 (Taylor, Gruwell); Coastal Carolina 1 (Ahaus). Officials -- Wendy Dailey, Gabby Lujan, Bruce Corson.

Coastal Carolina 18 29 -- 47

UAA 46 43 -- 89

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