Sports

Seawolves women's basketball team shreds Sharks 109-83

Sharks might get their own week, but the UAA Seawolves women are putting together an entire season of ferocity.

The third-ranked UAA women tied their longest winning streak to start a season and got career highs from three different players in their 109-83 nonconference win over Hawaii Pacific on Sunday night at the Alaska Airlines Center.

"It's different ladies each night, that's the great thing about this team," said UAA head coach Ryan McCarthy after his team improved to 12-0 heading into the holiday break.

Jenna Buchanan scored a career-high 21 points to lead seven Seawolves in double figures. KeKe Wright tied a career high with 17 points and Adriana Dent posted a career high with 13 points and hit both of her 3-point tries.

"She was huge for us," said McCarthy of Dent.

Wright had three steals and grabbed five rebounds for UAA, one of five players with at least five boards.

"She's just got those sneaky long go-go gadget arms," McCarthy said.

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The Seawolves looked sluggish out of the gates, missing five of their first eight shots from the field. But Buchanan's 3-pointer with 14:30 left ignited a 13-5 UAA run that gave the Seawolves a 23-15 lead and forced Hawaii Pacific to call timeout midway through the first half. It was all Seawolves after that, as UAA pushed its lead to as many as 24 points in the first half, taking a 53-33 lead into the break.

McCarthy's team used pressure defense to frustrate the Sharks all evening. UAA's full-court press caused a pair of 10-second violations in the first half as the ball-hawking Seawolves forced Hawaii Pacific into more turnovers (12) than made field goals (9) by halftime.

UAA shot 52 percent in the game. Jessica Madison scored 16 points and grabbed five rebounds, Alli Madison had 11 points and eight boards and Leah Bonner scored 10 points and also collected eight rebounds. Kiki Robertson scored 10 points before leaving in the first half with an injury.

Morganne Comstock scored a game-high 28 points and pulled down 14 rebounds for the Sharks (8-2), who also got 17 points each from Breanna Mackenzie, Veanne Navarro and Chenise Peone.

UAA's 109 points were the second-most against a Division II team in program history and the eighth-most against any opponent.

The Seawolves also started 12-0 in 2006-07. However, this season's mark does come with a caveat – UAA lost 69-60 to Long Beach State in the championship of the Great Alaska Shootout, but that game was officially an exhibition.

The Seawolves didn't slow down after the break, continuing to score essentially at will against the overwhelmed Sharks. UAA shot 56 percent from the floor in the second half and hit triple figures with five minutes left in the game.

The game wasn't perfect for UAA, which lost Robertson for the game with 4:22 left in the first half after she suffered a blow to the head. The team said Robertson was being held out with concussion-like symptoms. McCarthy said losing his point guard was a blow, but he expects Robertson to return once UAA gets back from a mandatory holiday break.

"If there was any time of year to get one, it would be the last game or right before Christmas," McCarthy said.

UAA returns to action Jan. 1 for a game against Great Northwest Athletic Conference foe Northwest Nazarene at 5:15 p.m. at the Alaska Airlines Center.

McCarthy said he's pleased with what UAA has accomplished so far but knows the team has its toughest battles ahead.

"We're just hoping they keep themselves focused and come back strong for league play," he said.

Despite UAA's lofty ranking, McCarthy said he expects the conference season to be a challenge.

"The GNAC is the best league in the country," he said.

Contact reporter Matt Tunseth at 257-4335 or mtunseth@alaskadispatch.com

UAA 109, HAWAII PACIFIC 83

HAWAII PACIFIC (83) – Comstock 8-13 12-14 28, Huerta 0-4 2-2 2, Mackenzie 7-11 2-2 17, Navarro 6-13 3-5 17, Peone 4-14 6-9 17, Armenta 0-5 0-0 0, Blake 0-1 2-2 2, Reeves 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 25-64 27-34 83.

UAA (109) – Mullings 1-4 6-8 8, Bonner 4-11 2-4 10, A. Madison 5-9 0-0 11, Buchanan 8-13 2-2 21, Robertson 5-9 0-1 10, Dent 3-5 5-6 13, Wright 7-9 3-5 17, Nelson 0-1 0-0 0, Devine 1-3 0-0 3, J. Madison 4-10 7-8 16. Totals 38-74 25-34 109.

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Hawaii Pacific 33 50 -- 83

UAA 53 56 -- 109

3-point goals – Hawaii Pacific 6-17 (Huerta 0-2, Mackenzie 1-1, Navarro 2-4, Peone 3-8, Armenta 0-2; UAA 8-16 (A. Madison 1-1, Buchanan 3-5, Robertson 0-1, Dent 2-2, Devine 1-2, J. Madison 1-5). Total fouls – Hawaii Pacific 22; UAA 23. Fouled out – Comstock. Technical fouls – none. Rebounds – Hawaii Pacific 39 (Comstock 14); UAA 42 (Bonner 8, A. Madison 8). Turnovers – Hawaii Pacific 17 (Comstock 4, Huerta 4); UAA 12 (A. Madison 3). Steals – Hawaii Pacific 2 (Comstock, Mackenzie); UAA 9 (Wright 3). Assists – Hawaii Pacific 18 (Huerta 8); UAA 17 (A. Madison 3). Blocks – Hawaii Pacific 3 (Comstock 2); UAA 5 (Wright 2). Officials – McCourt, Juzczak, Rupe. Attendance – 873.

Matt Tunseth

Matt Tunseth is a former reporter for the Anchorage Daily News and former editor of the Alaska Star.

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