by Aaron Walling
Sun Star
03/03/2015
UAF player Kaillee Skjold dodges a player from Montana State during their game Thursday night. With this win, the Nanooks were one game away from qualifying to conference. – Max Mckernan / Sun Star
The UAF women’s basketball team had an impressive victory over Montana State-Billings on Thursday, 74-55, behind the two-pronged attack by Kailee Skjold and Jordan Wilson who both had 20 points each. Skjold had a double-double with ten rebounds as well. What was more impressive was that this was Wilson’s first game back at the Patty Center after breaking her toe, and was named Co-Ravn Alaska Nanook player of the game, alongside Wilson.
Skjold felt like this game was meant for her saying, “I love pushing and I love full court man to man, so coach played in my hand tonight. When everyone is feeding off of each other’s energy, it’s easy to get my own mind right and play at my best.”
In addition to the victory, the Nanooks accomplished something more in Coach Cody Bench’s eyes, “With a win tonight, I’m very happy. Not only because they executed but we will finish with a .500 percent season and that hasn’t happened in maybe a decade at UAF, with potential to still go to playoffs. Those are things I haven’t seen in a couple years. With this group of sophomores and transfers, I’m very proud and thankful, and these girls are apart of that.”
Nanooks fall short of playoffs on Senior Night
The women’s basketball team lost to the second best team in the GNAC, the Seattle Pacific Falcons, 66-79, on Senior Night as they said goodbye to Benissa Bulaya and Kelly Logue. The Falcons dominated late into the game from beyond the arc with clutch threes from Suzanna Ohlsen and Aubree Callen to halt the momentum the Nanooks were gaining.
Kailee Skjold continued her strong performance from the night before against Montana State by scoring 18 points and grabbing five rebounds. “I think we had a good game plan coming in, especially after the Montana State Billings win,” Skjold said after the game.
“[I’m] just trying to play with my instincts instead of being monotonous over my shots,” Despite the disappointment of losing, the Nanooks did finish with a .500 record (14-14) and have a bright future in returning players like Skjold, Jordan Wilson, Victoria Milton and many others.
UAF Senior Anthony Reese dunks the game during the Nanooks game against Saint Martins, a game which they went on to win 82-78. Max Mackernan / Sun Star
Men’s basketball season closes on Senior Night
No one likes to say goodbye, but that’s what the Nanooks had to do with seniors Eric Fongue, Anthony Reese and Rashaad Allen with a loss against the top GNAC team. The Nanooks took a loss against the Western Oregon Wolves, 60-75, finishing 7-19 overall.
Andy Avgi for the Wolves had 17 points and seven rebounds. His punctuating dunk late in the second half was absolutely amazing considering he is 6’6’’ and 260 lbs. The Nanooks tried to get into the game behind Ashton Edwards who had 27 points while going 5-8 from behind the arc.
“We’ve always felt that we are a solid team, despite our record. We know that we can hang with anybody, so long as we trust in each other and the coach’s system. We had that mentality today, and it showed,” Edwards said after the game.