UAA Athletics

Yasin, McNair come through for the UAA women’s basketball team

Early in the fourth quarter of UAA’s 70-55 women’s basketball win over Simon Fraser, Kian McNair and Safiyyah Yasin combined for a play that capped a game-winning run while also showcasing the Seawolves’ two biggest contributors Thursday at the Alaska Airlines Center.

McNair stole the ball and fed it to Yasin, whose layup gave UAA a 13-point lead. Simon Fraser never came within single-digits after that.

Playing in front of a crowd of 1,046, McNair finished with career-highs in steals (9) and assists (8) while adding five points and four rebounds in 26 minutes of playing time. Yasin finished with a career-high 20 points on 8 of 13 shooting in 23 minutes.

Tara Thompson (13 point) and Hannah Wandersee (10) joined Yasin in double figures to help the Seawolves move to 10-1 overall and 2-1 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.

Simon Fraser dropped to 5-5, 1-2.

The first half was a schitzophrenic affair. UAA led 20-6 after the first quarter, but the Clan turned things around in the second quarter to tie the game, 28-28.

The Seawolves seized control of a back-and-fourth third quarter with five quick points in the final 55 seconds. Wandersee hit a pair of free throws to break a 45-45 tie and Thompson hit her third trey of the quarter to put UAA on top 50-45 at the quarter stop.

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The points by Wandersee and Thompson were the start of a 13-0 run that gave the Seawolves a 58-45 lead two minutes into the fourth quarter. Yasin’s layup off McNair’s steal and assist was the final points in the run.

“Simon Fraser had all the momentum there early in the third quarter, but Tara hit a couple huge threes and Safiyyah really stepped up her scoring and defense when we needed it most,” UAA coach Ryan McCarthy said in a release from the school.

Simon Fraser used Ozioma Nwabuko’s 10 rebounds to outrebound UAA 38-30, but the Clan was doomed by 34 turnovers. UAA was guilty of 20 turnovers but compensated with 20 steals.

The Seawolves return to action Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Alaska Airlines Center for a game against Western Washington.

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