It's a big weekend for UAA women's basketball coach Ryan McCarthy -- the third-ranked Seawolves won their 11th straight game Saturday by beating their instate rivals, and McCarthy's wife Jenny is scheduled to deliver a baby Sunday.
UAA handled the Nanooks 77-61 Saturday afternoon in Fairbanks, rallying from an early deficit to win with ease.
Megan Mullings poured in a game-high 21 points on 9 of 11 shooting, blocked two shots and grabbed seven rebounds for the Seawolves. Kiki Robertson did a lot of everything -- 10 points, six assists, six steals, four rebounds -- and Jenna Buchanan supplied 12 points and seven rebounds.
"We played as well as we have in Fairbanks since I've been here," said McCarthy, UAA's third-year coach. "It's a really hard place to win, and I know Fairbanks always brings their best effort when they play us."
UAA (23-1 overall, 13-1 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) trailed 12-9 midway through the first half before establishing control. The Seawolves led 36-26 by halftime and their lead ballooned to 27 points, 63-36, midway through the second half.
"We made some defensive adjustments right off the bat," McCarthy said in a phone interview, "and I thought we did a good job containing their point guard."
Benissa Bulaya still managed to hand out nine assists for UAF (13-11 overall, 5-9 GNAC), but she made just one of six shots and finished with seven points. Leading the Nanooks were Autumn Childers (17 points) and Cassi Williams (14).
UAA got points from eight players, rebounds from eight, assists from seven and steals from five. Keke Wright's eight rebounds helped the Seawolves dominate the boards 50-33, with 20 of their rebounds coming on the offensive end.
Wright added seven points and was part of a bench that provided 24 points and 16 rebounds. Among those contributing from the bench was freshman Sierra Afoa, who had an eventful 12 minutes -- she scored nine points on 4 of 6 shooting, collected five rebounds and was called for five fouls.
The Seawolves spent Saturday night in Fairbanks without their coach, who caught an evening flight back to Anchorage so he can be at the hospital early Sunday morning.
Jenny is 39 weeks pregnant with a baby girl, McCarthy said. Labor is being induced to ensure dad can be there for the delivery, because McCarthy and the Seawolves leave town Wednesday for games at Simon Fraser and Western Washington.
The McCarthys had better timing for their first child, 4-year-old Donovan. He was born in late August, during the preseason.