And so with less than two minutes remaining, UAA's 6-foot-2 senior center Hanna Johansson launched her first 3-point attempt of the season.
"It looked good," UAA junior Haley Holmstead said. "I thought it was going in."
The shot clanged off the back of the rim, but the miss didn't put a damper on UAA's 83-48 Great Northwest Athletic Conference victory.
"We set that up and said this is her one opportunity," UAA coach Tim Moser said. "She might not get to shoot another one all season."
For 14th-ranked UAA (17-3 overall, 7-1 GNAC), the win was the 13th in its last 14 games and it stretched the Seawolves' lead in the conference to two games, because Seattle Pacific and Western Washington both lost Saturday.
Saint Martin's (7-12, 2-7), led by 18 points from Jordyn Richardson, slipped closer to the bottom of the GNAC standings, and coach Tim Healy said injuries are partly to blame.
"We've lost five kids since the beginning of the year," he said. "Now we're playing freshmen and it's just a learning experience for my kids."
Holmstead, who averages more than 14 points per game, was UAA's standout performer, scoring a game-high 23 points. She showed off her impressive offensive talents, scoring on drives to the rim and swishing the occasional jump shot while hitting 11 of 16 shots from the field.
Freshman Gritt Ryder and senior Kaylie Robison also scored in double figures for the Seawolves, with Ryder tossing in 12 points and Robison hitting for 10. Johansson ruled the glass with 14 rebounds.
With the game well in hand after opening with an 11-2 run, the Seawolves had a chance to show the depth of their talented bench. Ten players scored for the Seawolves.
"I think we can go 13 deep," Moser said. "We've got a good bunch of kids and they are all buying in about being part of UAA."
Ryder played one of her best games of the season, hitting all four of her field-goal attempts, including two 3-pointers. One of her treys was a bomb from the top of the key, launched from about two feet behind the arc. The long-range strike put the Seawolves up 45-19 early in the second half.
The Seawolves finished with 24 assists, which Ryder said is a great sign of how well the team is playing together.
"It's easier now that we know each other so well," she said.
Ryder said players spend a lot of time together off the court and have bonded as a team, creating chemistry no matter who is playing.
When the time came to get some of the reserves a little extra playing time, Moser was happy with what he saw.
"Katie Richens and Alli Madison are some pretty talented kids that are trying to find themselves," Moser said. "People are going to watch them play next year and say 'Where were they last year?' "
Richens and Madison, both freshmen, each scored five points. Richens secured three rebounds in 12 minutes of play and Madison played six minutes, hitting a 3-pointer and a couple of free throws.
"All of us are weapons," Holmstead said.
Reach Jeremy Peters at jpeters@adn.com or 257-4335.
SAINT MARTIN'S (48) -- Haskey 4-7 2-2 10; Baker 1-4 0-1 2; Skorpik 1-5 0-0 2; Teade 1-3 0-0 3; Wilson 0-2 0-0 0; Richardson 4-6 8-10 18; Gelhar 0-4 3-4 3; Ferguson 0-3 2-2 2; Lashua 2-7 0-0 4; Paulson 2-3 0-0 4; Tigue 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 15-44 15-19 48.
UAA (83) -- Robison 4-6 2-2 10; Johansson 3-11 1-4 7; Holmstead 11-16 1-3 23; Ryder 4-4 2-4 12; King 1-7 0-0 3; Mathews 1-4 0-0 3; Nenbee 0-0 0-0 0; Madison 1-2 2-2 5; Richens 2-6 0-2 5; Martin 0-0 0-0 0; Seale 0-0 0-0 0; Horn 3-11 0-0 7; Lee 0-0 0-0 0; Burns 3-5 0-0 8.
Saint Martin's 19 29 -- 48
UAA 36 47 -- 83
3-point goals -- Saint Martin's 3-11 (Baker 0-1, Skorpik 0-1, Teade 1-2, Richardson 2-4, Gelhar 0-3.); UAA 9-23 (Ryder 2-2, King 1-6, Mathews 1-1, Madison 1-2, Richens 1-3, Horn 1-5, Burns 2-4). Rebounds -- Saint Martin's 26 (Haskey 5); UAA 47 (Johansson 14). Personal fouls --Saint Martin's 11, UAA 21. Fouled out -- none. Assists --Saint Martin's 12 (Skorpik, Gelhar 3), UAA 24 (King 7). Turnovers -- Saint Martin's 26 (Haskey 6), UAA 17 (King, Holmstead 3). Blocks -- Saint Martin's 1 (Lashua), UAA 3 (3 with 1). Steals -- Saint Martin's 7 (Skorpik 3), UAA 17 (Robison 4). Officials -- Thompson, Leitch, McNew. Attendance -- 457.
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