Box Score
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SEATTLE – A month ago on the road, the clock didn't run out soon enough for Seattle Pacific.
 
On Thursday night at home, it did.
 
Courtney Hollander had 17 points and 13 rebounds for her eighth double-double of the season, and SPU fended off a furious fourth-quarter comeback by Alaska Fairbanks to secure a 57-49 Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's basketball victory in Brougham Pavilion.
 
When the teams met in Fairbanks on Jan. 23, the Falcons went ahead 56-54 with 15.5 seconds left. But the Nanooks scored the final four points to escape with a 58-56 victory.
 
Thursday's rematch saw Seattle Pacific build an 18-point lead with just 7:45 remaining. Fairbanks got as close as five before going scoreless for the final 1 minute, 40 seconds.
 
"We've still got to learn how to play for 40 minutes, but I'm really proud of the team," head coach Julie Heisey said. "I'm really thankful that different kids are stepping up. Bri Lasconia and Lindsay Lee came off the bench and gave us a nice spark.
 
"We won, and we know it's a lot more fun to win ugly than it is to lose pretty."
               
By winning their second straight and fourth in the last five, the Falcons (10-14, 7-10 GNAC) kept alive their hopes of qualifying for the conference tournament. SPU remains one game out of the sixth and final berth, which is now shared by Northwest Nazarene and Central Washington, both with 8-9 records.
 
All teams have three games remaining. The first of those for the Falcons is Saturday against co-No. 1 ranked Alaska Anchorage. The Seawolves beat SPU last month up north, 82-47.
 
"With Anchorage, you have to have a very aggressive mentality," Heisey said. "You have to make sure you're attacking them just like they're attacking you. We have to aggressive and rebound and push the ball. We've got to look for an advantage and use it."





The 13 rebounds for sophomore forward Hollander (Lynden, Wash. / Lynden Christian HS) tied her career high, and it's the third time this season she has collected the baker's dozen.
 
Her eighth double-double – and second in a row – makes her the first Falcon with that many in a season since Katie Benson had eight in 2013-14.
 
"Courtney had an amazing game, when you look at her line – 13 rebounds, 17 points, no turnovers, and she did a really good job leading," Heisey said.
 
After an 8-0 first-quarter spurt snapped a 4-4 tie, SPU led the rest the night. The margin swelled all the way to a seemingly-safe 18 points at 47-29 at the 7:45 mark.
 
But the Nanooks (11-16, 6-11 GNAC), down 54-39 with just 4:04 remaining, went on a 10-0 in a span of 2 minutes, 24 seconds, to get within 54-49 with 1:40 showing.
 
That, however, was their last point. The Falcons got the final three points of the game at the foul line: one by Jordan McPhee with 23.4 seconds left after a big offensive rebound by Hollander kept the ball in SPU's possession, then two clinchers by Hollander for an eight-point margin and only 15.6 seconds on the clock.
 
Seattle Pacific limited UAF's Jordan Wilson to 13 points, all in the second half after Wilson picked up two quick fouls in the first 3 ½ minutes of the game and didn't return until after halftime. (Wilson came in averaging 17.0, tied for the GNAC lead.)
 
The Falcons limited their turnovers to 12, had a 46-31 rebounding advantage, and allowed Fairbanks just five offensive boards.
 
"I'm really happy with the way we took care of the ball," Heisey said. "Our goal tonight was to hold them to eight or less offensive boards. We gave up 22 points in the last quarter, which shouldn't have happened, but our defense was great. We did a lot of things really well, and had a lot of good offensive rebounds (15 of the 46).
 
 
NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Thursday, February 18, 2016
Brougham Pavilion / Seattle, Wash.
 
Seattle Pacific 57, Alaska Fairbanks 49
 
ALASKA FAIRBANKS (11-16, 6-11 GNAC)
Jordan Wilson 6-7 1-2 13, Autumn Childers 3-9 2-4 9, Kaillee Skjold 3-13 2-2 8, Jaylee Mays 1-6 1-1 3, Arinesh Smith 5-11 2-3 12, Victoria Milton 1-2 0-0 2, McClainn Williams 0-0 0-0 0, Brianna Kirk 0-1 0-0 0, Cassi Williams 0-1 0-0 0, Marian Wamsley 0-1 2-2 2. Totals 19-51 10-14 49.
 
SEATTLE PACIFIC (10-14, 7-10 GNAC)
Jordan McPhee 3-10 2-4 8, Courtney Hollander 6-15 2-2 17, Hannah Rodrigues 2-6 4-6 8, Stacey Lukasiewicz 1-1 0-0 2, Jaylee Albert 1-5 2-2 4, Riley Evans 00 0-0 0, Julia Haining 0-2 2-2 2, Brianne Lasconia 3-10 0-0 7, Lindsay Lee 3-7 0-0 9, Molly Grager 0-1 0-0 0, Erica Pagano 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 19-60 12-16 57.
 
Alaska Fairbanks                 9            10             8            22           -- 49
Seattle Pacific                     17             8            15           17           -- 57
 
3-point goals – UAF 1-11 (Childers 1-4, Skjold 0-1, Mays 0-3, Smith 0-1, Milton 0-1), SPU 7-22 (McPhee 0-3, Hollander 3-5, Albert 0-3, Lasconia 1-4, Lee 3-6, Pagano 0-1). Fouled out – None. Rebounds – UAF 31 (Skjold 14), SPU 46 (Hollander 13). Assists – UAF 5 (Mays 3), SPU 10 (Lasconia 5). Turnovers – UAF 14, SPU 12. Total fouls – UAF 13, SPU 19. Technical fouls – None. Attendance – 189.
 
 
Next game –        Alaska Anchorage at Seattle Pacific
                                Saturday, 6:00 p.m.
                                Brougham Pavilion