FAIRBANKS, Alaska (Jan. 14) – the Central Washington University women's basketball team fell to Alaska, 69-56.
 
The Wildcats are now 6-9 overall and 1-6 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.  The Nanooks improve to 6-8 overall and 3-5 in GNAC competitions.
 
Taylor Baird once again led the Wildcats' offense, but Alaska held on.  Baird finished with 15 points, eight rebounds, two assists, one steal, and a shooting percentage of 50.  The Wildcats have now lost three straight and four of their last five.
 
Central Washington's Sarah McGee scored the opening bucket and the Wildcats kept the game close for a majority of the opening stanza.  The Nanooks held just a slim five-point advantage after 10 minutes of action. 
 
Alaska maintained the course in the second quarter, edging the lead to seven at 34-27 with the close of the second.  The third quarter was much of the same.  The Wildcats stayed close, but could not find a way to disrupt the consistent play of the Nanooks.  Alaska went into the final 10 minutes of play with a 47-40 advantage. 
 
The Nanooks gained their first double-digit advantage with 8:59 remaining in regulation.  A jumper by Jordan Wilson gave Alaska an 11-point spread 51-40.  The Nanooks held on for the 69-56 victory.
 
Sadie Mensing finished with 11 points, five rebounds, and one steal.  McGee tallied nine points, six rebounds, and two steals.  The Wildcats outrebounded Alaska, pulling in 35 rebounds.  They also finished with nine steals.
 
Turnovers again hurt the Wildcats, as they turned the ball over 25 times.
 
The Nanooks finished with a shooting percentage of 48 and they knocked down 17-of-20 free throws.  Alaska finished with 28 rebounds and 14 steals.
 
Central Washington is back on the court on Thursday (Jan. 19) against Western Oregon University in Ellensburg.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. in Nicholson Pavilion.