MEDIA RELEASE

By Cory Weibel, UAF Athletics

FAIRBANKS, AK – Alexandra Melonson (Seattle, WA) hit a free throw with 1.1 seconds left to lift the Nanooks to a colorful win over the Hawaii-Hilo Vulcans at the Patty Center on Tuesday night. The Nanooks out rebounded the Vulcans 54-38 and shot 47% from the field in the first half for head coach Dave Thompon’s first win.

The Nanooks and Vulcans combined to turn the ball over 33 times in the first half and also committed 32 fouls in a very sloppy half. The Nanooks held a slim 40-36 lead with the help of 14 points from Lakeshia Levi (Warner Robins, GA) and 47% shooting from the team.

Alaska held a 10 point lead at the 3:50 mark of the first half before the Vulcans battled back to tie the game at 36 just 2:18 later on two made free throws by Kayce Kirihara. The Nanooks then ran off the final four points to go into half with the lead.

The second half played almost identical to the first half and saw the Vulcans and Nanooks battle back and forth for the lead. Hawaii-Hilo took their first lead of the half at the 7:25 mark when a Kirsti Imai lay up made the score 59-58.

After a Hina Kimitete three-point basket tied the contest at 65 with 2:30 to play the Nanooks and Vulcans both went cold from the field and did not register a field goal the remainder of the game.

The turning point of the contest came with 1.1 seconds left when Melonson was fouled by Kayce Kirihara, which gave her a chance to win the game for Alaska. After Melonson’s first shot drew nothing but iron she regained her focus and netted the second to give the Nanooks the victory.

All told the Nanooks turned the ball over 36 times and committed 26 fouls while shooting 39% from the field. The Nanooks also were unable to find their stroke from the free throw line as they went only 13-27 from the charity stripe.

Hawaii-Hilo also turned the ball over 24 times and committed 27 foul. The Vulcans shot 71% from the free throw line (22-31) which was a huge reason the Vulcan were able to keep the contest close.

Levi and Jessica Harrison (Las Vegas, NV) led the Nanooks, each recording a double-double. Both poured in 18 points and 10+ rebounds in the victory. Britany Anderson (Eielson, AK) was the other Nanook in double-figures with 15 points as she went 6 for 12 from the field.

Kayce Kirihara, who netted 15 points, along with three other Vulcans picking up double-figures, paced the Vulcans. Hina Kimitete (13), Kirsti Imai (13), and Natalie Mata (11) also scored in double-figures in the loss.

The Nanooks will return to action tomorrow night when they take on the Vulcans. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. at the Patty Center.

Hawaii-Hilo vs Alaska
11-17-09 7:00 PM at Fairbanks, AK

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VISITORS: Hawaii-Hilo 0-3, 0-0
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
03 Kirihara,Kayce...... *  3-6    1-1    8-10   0  3  3   1  15  2  1  0  0  28
12 Imai,Kirsty......... *  4-8    0-2    5-9    0  2  2   4  13  4  6  0  3  31
21 Deniz,Leesa......... *  1-3    0-0    1-2    1  3  4   4   3  1  4  0  2  18
22 Kimitete,Hina....... *  5-16   3-7    0-0    2  1  3   3  13  0  1  0  6  23
31 Pio,Sheena.......... *  0-4    0-0    1-2    1  0  1   4   1  0  3  0  0  16
04 Harris,Ruby.........    0-1    0-0    0-0    0  1  1   2   0  0  0  0  0  11
11 Mata,Natalie........    4-6    1-1    2-2    1  3  4   2  11  1  2  0  2  27
20 Mueller,Amanda......    2-7    0-0    4-4    2  5  7   0   8  0  3  1  1  22
23 Jandoc,Dayna........    0-3    0-0    1-2    0  0  0   2   1  0  0  0  0   9
25 Camara,Mana.........    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   1   0  0  1  0  0   3
34 Corpuz,Jazmine......    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   3   0  0  1  0  0   3
40 Torres,Tressa.......    0-5    0-0    0-0    0  1  1   1   0  0  2  0  0   9
   TEAM................                         9  3 12
   Totals..............   19-59   5-11  22-31  16 22 38  27  65  8 24  1 14 200

TOTAL FG% 1st Half:  7-25 28.0%   2nd Half: 12-34 35.3%   Game: 32.2%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  2-6  33.3%   2nd Half:  3-5  60.0%   Game: 45.5%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 20-26 76.9%   2nd Half:  2-5  40.0%   Game: 71.0%    3

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HOME TEAM: Alaska 1-0, 0-0
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
03 Edwards,Ronisha..... *  0-7    0-3    1-2    5  4  9   4   1  6  8  0  1  35
04 Aldrich,Brittany.... *  6-12   2-5    1-2    2  1  3   3  15  0  0  0  0  27
11 Harrison,Jessica.... *  7-12   0-0    4-6    5  8 13   5  18  1  3  1  0  23
22 Anderson,Britany.... *  0-3    0-0    0-3    0  4  4   0   0  3 11  0  0  27
30 Levi,Lakeshia....... *  7-15   0-0    4-5    5  5 10   4  18  2  3  1  2  26
13 Beans,Adrienne......    1-4    1-3    0-0    0  2  2   3   3  1  1  0  0  13
23 Melonson,Alexandra..    0-3    0-1    2-4    0  1  1   1   2  5  4  0  0  20
24 Milliken,Grace......    0-0    0-0    0-2    2  0  2   2   0  0  1  1  1  11
33 Bozek,Nicole........    3-6    2-2    1-3    2  5  7   4   9  0  5  1  1  18
   TEAM................                         3     3
   Totals..............   24-62   5-14  13-27  24 30 54  26  66 18 36  4  5 200

TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 14-30 46.7%   2nd Half: 10-32 31.3%   Game: 38.7%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  3-7  42.9%   2nd Half:  2-7  28.6%   Game: 35.7%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  9-17 52.9%   2nd Half:  4-10 40.0%   Game: 48.1%    6

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Officials: Bruce Carson, Aaron Hamilton, Rob Wolkotte
Technical fouls: Hawaii-Hilo-TEAM 2. Alaska-None.
Attendance: 296
Score by Periods                1st  2nd   Total
Hawaii-Hilo...................   36   29  -   65
Alaska........................   40   26  -   66