MEDIA RELEASE
By Cory Weibel, UAF Athletics
FAIRBANKS, AK – Hawaii-Hilo used 24 points from Kirsti Imai and 20 points from Hina Kimitete to defeat the Nanooks for their first win of the season. Alaska fell behind 37-31 in the first half and never able to gain the lead in the second half for their first loss of the season.
The Nanooks came out of the gate and took control while playing solid defense, holding the Vulcans without a field goal for the first 5:44 of the half, and only two field goals for the first 7:32. The Vulcans were able to capitalize on the Nanooks early four trouble to stay in the contest. Alaska put Hawaii-Hilo in the bonus with 14 minutes left in the half.
Hawaii-Hilo cut the Nanook lead to one (22-21) late in the half before taking the lead at the 5:55 mark on a Tressa Torres lay in. That basket gave the Vulcans their first lead of the night and went on to hit eight more field goals from that point on.
With the score tied at 29 with 3:34 remaining the Vulcans went on an 8-2 run to end the half and take a 37-31 lead into the break.
Hawaii-Hilo ended the half shooting 44% from the field after their early struggles and went 13-18 from the charity stripe to fuel their offense. The Nanooks shot 13-33 (39%) from the field but were handicapped committing 14 fouls, having seven players with two fouls each. Alaska also turned the ball over 12 times in a half after coughing it up 36 times the night before.
Hawaii-Hilo stormed out of the gate and took the biggest lead of the game, 41-31, before the Nanooks would start to mount a comeback.
The Nanooks cut the lead to two at the 7:00 mark when Ronisha Edwards (Compton, CA) knocked down her second three-point basket of the night. The Vulcans answered right back on the next possession with a Natalie Mata lay in.
Hawaii-Hilo controlled the rest of the contest and held the Nanooks scoreless after the Edwards three-pointer for over four minutes and took a comfortable six point lead.
Britany Anderson (Eielson, AK) hit a three with 50 seconds left to cut the lead in half and give the Nanooks life. After two free throws pushed the lead five, Anderson knocked down another three and cut the Vulcans lead down to 68-66. Hina Kimitete hit both free throws to seal the victory after Edwards fouled out.
The Nanooks committed 21 turnovers and also had 26 personal fouls. The Vulcans also out rebounded Alaska 42-41 and shot 22-32 (69%) from the free throw line.
Lakeshia Levi (Warner Robins, GA) led the Nanooks with 17 points on 8 of 15 shooting and led the team in rebounding with 11 (6 offensive). Anderson had 16 points and six rebounds and Edwards netted 11 points.
Hawaii-Hilo was led by Kirsti Imai with 24 points and shot 14 of 16 from the charity stripe. Hina Kimitete also scored 20 points and had a team-high seven rebounds.
The win is the first for the season for Hawaii-Hilo who moved to 1-3 while the Nanooks fell to 1-1. The Nanooks will return to action when they host the Mt. McKinley Bank North Star Invitational November 26-28. Check www.alaskananooks.com for tournament information.
Hawaii-Hilo vs Alaska
11-18-09 7:00 PM at Fairbanks, AK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VISITORS: Hawaii-Hilo 1-3, 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...... * 2-9 0-1 1-5 2 3 5 1 5 0 2 0 0 33
12 Imai,Kirsty......... * 5-13 0-2 14-16 1 5 6 2 24 3 5 0 0 34
21 Deniz,Leesa......... * 0-1 0-0 0-0 1 4 5 2 0 0 4 0 1 19
22 Kimitete,Hina....... * 9-18 0-6 2-3 3 4 7 2 20 2 1 0 1 30
31 Pio,Sheena.......... * 0-4 0-0 2-3 2 4 6 2 2 0 2 0 1 22
04 Harris,Ruby......... 2-3 0-0 0-0 0 2 2 3 4 0 0 2 1 14
11 Mata,Natalie........ 1-2 0-0 1-3 2 2 4 2 3 1 3 0 0 20
20 Mueller,Amanda...... 3-3 0-0 0-0 1 1 2 1 6 1 1 0 0 19
23 Jandoc,Dayna........ 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 2 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 3
40 Torres,Tressa....... 2-3 0-0 2-2 1 0 1 0 6 0 0 0 0 6
TEAM................ 2 2
Totals.............. 24-57 0-9 22-32 13 29 42 15 70 7 19 2 4 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 12-27 44.4% 2nd Half: 12-30 40.0% Game: 42.1% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 0-3 0.0% 2nd Half: 0-6 0.0% Game: 0.0% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 13-18 72.2% 2nd Half: 9-14 64.3% Game: 68.8% 4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOME TEAM: Alaska 1-1, 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..... * 3-17 2-6 3-5 1 5 6 5 11 5 5 0 0 35
04 Aldrich,Brittany.... * 3-5 0-2 0-0 0 0 0 4 6 1 2 0 1 27
11 Harrison,Jessica.... * 3-8 0-0 0-0 1 5 6 1 6 0 1 0 0 36
21 Anderson,Britany.... * 7-10 2-4 0-0 4 2 6 4 16 0 3 0 0 33
30 Levi,Lakeshia....... * 8-15 0-0 1-2 6 5 11 4 17 3 4 0 1 27
15 Benavides,Denise.... 1-4 0-2 0-0 1 1 2 2 2 0 1 0 1 13
24 Milliken,Grace...... 0-3 0-0 0-0 1 3 4 3 0 0 2 0 0 9
33 Bozek,Nicole........ 3-7 1-5 1-1 1 2 3 3 8 1 2 1 0 20
TEAM................ 3 3 1
Totals.............. 28-69 5-19 5-8 15 26 41 26 66 10 21 1 3 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 13-33 39.4% 2nd Half: 15-36 41.7% Game: 40.6% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 2-8 25.0% 2nd Half: 3-11 27.3% Game: 26.3% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 3-6 50.0% 2nd Half: 2-2 100 % Game: 62.5% 0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Officials: Keith Nore, Aaron Hamilton, Milt Hakken
Technical fouls: Hawaii-Hilo-None. Alaska-None.
Attendance: 241
Score by Periods 1st 2nd Total
Hawaii-Hilo................... 37 33 - 70
Alaska........................ 31 35 - 66