UAA women build big lead, hang on to advance in GNAC tourney quarterfinals

The UAA women’s basketball team shot out to a quick and commanding lead Thursday and held on to defeat Seattle Pacific 57-50 in the quarterfinals of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships.

For much of the game, it was not as close as the final score indicated. The Seawolves led by 16 at half and 20 points entering the final quarter.

But the Falcons, playing in Seattle at the Brougham Pavilion, outscored UAA 23-10 in the final quarter to make the margin of victory just seven.

Junior guard Jahnna Hajdukovich led the Seawolves with 13 points and senior Tennae Voliva contributed 10 rebounds and six steals despite going just 1 for 8 from the floor. Jazzpher Evans (10) was the only other scorer in double figures for the Seawolves.

“We were extremely focused defensively until we gave them too many open looks in the fourth quarter, but fortunately we were able to get the job done,” UAA head coach Ryan McCarthy said in a release from the school. “We preached taking care of the ball in yesterday’s practice, and our ball handlers did a great job with that. Tomorrow we cannot afford a letdown like we had late in the game today, though, playing a Central team that will be out to prove something.”

Seattle Pacific’s Natalie Hoff led all scorers with 14 points.

The victory pushes the No. 2 seeded Seawolves into Friday’s semifinals, where they face No. 3 seed Central Washington.

UAA has won 29 of the last 30 meetings with CWU, most recently earning an 89-81 victory just two weeks ago.

In other action from the GNAC Championships, No. 5 Montana State Billings defeated No. 4 Northwest Nazarene 69-56, No. 3 Central Washington beat No. 6 Simon Fraser 91-85 and top seed Western Washington beat Saint Martin’s 60-54.