Box Score

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (Jan. 26) -- Four Central Washington University players scored in double figures, including a game-high 20 points from junior Alex Dunn (West Valley City, Utah/Hunter HS), as the Wildcat women's basketball team cruised to a 94-72 win over host Alaska on Thursday night at the Patty Center.

The win enabled CWU to complete a sweep of the season series with the Nanooks for the first time in three years. The Wildcats improved to 6-11 overall and 3-7 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play, while UAF fell to 6-14 overall and 2-8 in the conference.

Dunn, who played 33 minutes, was in contention for her second triple-double of the season but finished three assists shy of that accomplishment. Nonetheless, she still led all players with those 20 points and 11 rebounds, while dishing out seven dimes.

The Wildcat offense turned in its most efficient -- and second-highest scoring -- performance of the season with its 94-point total. CWU did not trail in the contest, scoring on its opening possession with a three-pointer by senior Sophie Russell (Olympia/River Ridge HS), and the visitors kept up a torrid shooting pace throughout the remainder of the game.

Central Washington and Alaska were tied just once in the contest -- at 23-23 with 8:29 to go in the first half -- before the Wildcats closed the period on a 23-8 run to take a 46-31 halftime edge. The scoring spurt carried over to the second half, when CWU scored the first 10 points, and the Wildcats had a lead of 20 points or more for the final 19:05 including a lead as great as 28 at one point.

The Wildcats' prolific offense included a 52.1 percent efficiency from the floor and 11 of 19 three-pointers (57.9 percent). Both figures were season-highs for CWU, topping their previous best of 51.7 percent on all field goals (Nov. 18 vs. Harding) and 54.5 percent on three-pointers (Jan. 12 at Seattle Pacific).

Dunn made 10 of 14 shot attempts, while freshman Courtney Johnson (Kent/Kentwood HS) and sophomore Jessica VanDyke (Chester, Mont./Chester-Joplin-Inverness HS) also shot better than 50 percent from the floor at 7 of 10 and 6 of 10, respectively. Johnson finished with a career-high 19 points and made 4 of 5 three-pointers, while VanDyke drained four three-pointers in the first half and finished 4 of 7 from behind the arc. Russell added 17 points and six rebounds, making 3 of 5 three-pointers. All 13 active CWU players appeared in the game, and nine scored at least two points.

Alaska saw nine of its 10 players get into the scoring column, led by 11 points from Nicole Bozek and 10 from Kelly Logue. Three other Nanooks scored nine points apiece.

Central Washington will face a tough challenge from 12th-ranked Alaska Anchorage on Saturday, visiting the Seawolves in a scheduled 7 p.m. Alaska Standard Time (8 p.m. Pacific).