The UAA women's basketball team, ranked 14th in the nation, stole the ball 21 times Thursday in an 86-58 romp over Western Oregon in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference game at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex.
The game provided a showcase for Sasha King, a 5-foot-6 junior guard who turned in a career night.
King poured in a career-high 22 points, handed out a career-high seven assists and added five steals for the Seawolves. She sank four of five shots from 3-point range and 8 of 11 overall to lead all scorers.
Hanna Johansson, who won for the 98th time in a UAA uniform to move to No. 2 on the list of the school's winningest women's basketball players, chipped in 14 points and Kaylie Robison racked a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
UAA (16-3 overall, 7-1 GNAC) shot better than 50 percent, hitting 52.9 of its treys and 50.8 of all shots.
And the defense did its part. Although Western Oregon (4-14, 3-5) held its own on the boards -- each team had 30 rebounds -- UAA's 21 steals were among 30 turnovers by the Wolves. Eight Seawolves came up with steals, including Tijera Mathews, who swiped the ball six times.
Rylee Peterson led Western Oregon, which trailed 42-29 at the half, with 18 points. Lorrie Clifford of Chugiak added 13 points.
The game was the first in a four-game homestand for the Seawolves, who return to the Wells Fargo Sports Complex on Saturday for a 7 p.m. game against Saint Martin's.
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