UAA Athletics

Stingy defense carries UAA women’s basketball team to their 13th straight win

Defense is the calling card of the seventh-ranked UAA women’s basketball team, something Montana State-Billings can attest to after a punishing Saturday night at the Alaska Airlines Center.

The Seawolves held the Yellowjackets scoreless in the third quarter and limited them to five points in the first quarter to cruise to an 80-33 victory.

It was the 13th straight win for UAA, which improved to 18-1 overall and 8-0 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. Billings slipped to 9-8, 4-4.

Lauren Johnson was the only UAA player in double figures with 16 points, but all 12 in the lineup contributed points, and nine had five or more.

The Seawolves raced to a 28-5 lead in the first 10 minutes by hitting 11 of their 14 shots while Billings managed to hit 2 of 12.

In the third quarter, UAA outscored Billings 23-0 on 9 of 17 shooting, including 5 of 7 from 3-point range. The Yellowjackets missed all 11 of their shots.

Stephanie Jackson had three of UAA’s 12 steals to go along with nine points, five assists and five rebounds, and Yazmeen Goo helped out with eight points, five assists and two steals. The Yellowjackets were hurt by 22 turnovers.

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The Seawolves outrebounded the visitors 39-30 — again, everyone contributed with at least one rebound, with Tennae Voliva leading the way with six.

UAA shot 50% for the game (29 of 58) and from 3-point range (11 of 22). Johnson hit 6 of 8 field goal attempts and Nicole Pinckney hit 3 of 4 from long range for nine points.

UAA plays its next two games on the road, Thursday at Western Washington and Saturday at Simon Fraser.

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