The one-word motto of the UAA women's basketball team is "mayhem." The goal is a style and speed of play that wreaks havoc on the other team, often in the form of turnovers.
The one-woman embodiment of that concept is senior captain Alli Madison, UAA's maestro of mayhem.
Though at times prone to out-of-control play -- something she freely admits to -- Madison is a strong, physical, no-fear player who makes her presence known on both ends of the court. She plays smothering defense and attacks the basket with aggression, with many of her points coming on hard drives through the lane.
A 5-foot-8 guard from Seattle, Madison is a preseason all-conference pick and was UAA's top scorer last season. Going into Tuesday's game against Yale in the GCI Great Alaska Shootout, she is averaging 12.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.3 steals, 2.0 assists and 24 minutes through four games.
And she leads the team in body art.
Madison's left arm is a work in progress, a charcoal-colored tattoo featuring a number of elements from Alice in Wonderland, one of Madison's favorite books. The tattoo is halfway done; when completed, it will be a half-sleeve.
On Madison's right arm is a smaller tattoo of a mermaid, a homage to her love of Greek mythology and its sirens. On her foot is a Polynesian tribal tattoo that includes the name of her mom. She said she'll add her dad's name when the season is over and when she has the money.
Madison has piercings in her nose and belly and uses her hair as a canvas, sometimes dying it blue, sometimes gold, sometimes burgundy. It's currently her natural color, but it was ultra-violet the day UAA took team photos.
"With Alli, I may see a new tattoo and a different hair color every summer," UAA coach Ryan McCarthy said.
It's just the way she rolls, Madison said.
"I like to express myself," she said. "I have my tattoos and my piercings and my crazy hair colors. Someone said I have an artsy sort of gypsy soul."
Madison said she's fairly immune to the pain of a tattoo artist's needle, which makes sense if you've seen her play basketball. She seems to operate at full speed all of the time, and her body takes a banging, whether it's from fighting for a rebound, trapping on defense, setting a screen, scrambling for a loose ball or driving past opponents.
"My adrenaline's through the roof," she said, "and it's normal to get bumps and bruises. The best part about this team is being able to run the floor and press all game and just go, go, go."
Madison, 21, is one of Mark and Marianne Madison's two children. Mark is a former basketball player at Central Washington and younger brother Cole is a redshirt freshman on the Washington State football team.
The tattoos required some compromise on everyone's part, Madison said.
"They were definitely hesitant when I told them I was getting an arm sleeve," she said. "But it's only half, and I'm able to cover it up, and it's tasteful. I draw as well, so they know it's part me. It's not a phase I'm going through. They love me for me."
Madison starred in high school at Seattle's Kennedy Catholic and picked UAA because the school has a sucessful basketball program and she wanted to leave home but not go too far away. As a member of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, the Seawolves often play road games in places close enough for Madison to see her family.
These days she is more Alaskan than Washingtonian. Near the end of her freshman year, Madison started dating Chris Lythgoe, a Chugiak High graduate. Summers find her living in Wasilla with Lythgoe, who has gotten her into fishing and hiking.
"I would like to say I have become an Alaskan," Madison said. "My boyfriend and his dad do the moose-hunting thing, and his dad has a plane, so we're talking about a moose-hunting trip next (year).
"The hiking, the outdoorsy stuff -- coming from Seattle, I knew the polar opposite from those sort of things. Now those are the things I enjoy doing -- being outside in the cold, in the mountains. I've fallen in love with it."
McCarthy said Madison's love for her adopted state serves her well as a team captain.
"She knows what the expectations are for this program and what it means to have 'Alaska' across her chest," McCarthy said. "She has a lot of pride for her state."
Madison was recruited by former coach Tim Moser, who resigned after Madison's freshman year. Madison said she never considered transferring to another school during the uncertainty that followed Moser's unexpected departure.
"I loved UAA," she said. "I was happy."
Things only got better.
"I've learned a lot, especially being coached by Ryan for three years," Madison said. "I've grown to know what he wants from his players. With as good a relationship as I have with him and the good relationships I have with my teammates, that connection allows me to implement his vision from a player's perspective.
"Also, being a senior, there is a higher expectation to lead by example."
McCarthy said Madison's charisma makes her a natural leader. She has an ability to connect with a wide variety of people, he said.
Teammates who have been around Madison for a couple of seasons have seen her game improve. Madison said she has learned to play with more patience.
"I do play hard, and a lot of times it was out of control," she said. "I feel like I have gotten a little more control, and that in general has helped my game."
McCarthy has seen the difference.
"Her game has matured a significant amount," he said. "She's a much better ball-handler, and she takes care of the ball much better. She knows her strengths. She's very athletic -- she's one of the strongest kids in the weight room."
Madison and the Seawolves are 4-0 heading into the Shootout, and while this week is a big one, the biggest goal is to make a return trip to the NCAA Division II tournament. On a more personal level, Madison's goal is to have a senior season she can remember with pride.
"I want to go out knowing I gave everything to my teammates and my coach and my institution," she said. "I want to move forward and always have that close to my heart."
So does that mean there's a green-and-gold Seawolf tattoo in her future?
"Maybe if we win a national championship," she said.