by Nate Sagan
LACEY, Wash. (Feb. 22) – Junior center Tori Hollingshead scored a career-high 21 points and sophomore guard Elaina Mack matched her season high with 17 points Thursday to propel the Alaska Anchorage women’s basketball team to a 64-50 victory over Saint Martin’s at Marcus Pavilion.
The Seawolves (16-8, 10-5 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) also got 11 points from Vishe’ Rabb and eight assists from Senya Rabouin as they swept the season series and became the third team to clinch a bid in the 2024 GNAC Tournament, set for Mar. 7-9 in Ellensburg, Wash.
The Saints (5-17, 3-12) were led by 16 points, six assists and five steals from guard Anjel Galbraith and 10 points from Kiana Rios, but were outdone 29-6 in bench points as they were eliminated from postseason contention.
“It was a slow start offensively, but once we started getting the ball inside to Tori, we started getting more open looks and softening up their zone,” said UAA head coach Ryan McCarthy, whose team shot 51 percent from the floor despite a 3-of-11 first quarter. “Elaina was not only big with her threes, but she earned us extra chances with four offensive boards and was strong with the ball (0 turnovers) while logging our most minutes (32). I’m proud of her and the whole squad for getting it done tonight.”
After trailing 9-3, the Seawolves were able to hold the Saints scoreless over the final five minutes of the opening quarter, and grabbed the lead at 16-14 on two free throws by Hollingshead. Mack was 3 of 4 from long range to help UAA earn a 24-18 lead at the break.
Hollingshead made 4 of 6 shots in the third period, although UAA led just 40-36 with 10 minutes to play.
Mack and Rabb combined for three three-pointers in fourth quarter as the Seawolves pulled away late, shooting 10 of 14 overall and 4 of 6 on threes in the final stanza.
A transfer from Umpqua (Ore.) Community College, Hollingshead shot 9 of 14 from the floor and 3 of 5 at the charity stripe to top her previous UAA high by one point, along with five rebounds and several altered shots.
Meanwhile, Mack matched her career scoring high against a fellow NCAA Div. II opponent and had her most points in a GNAC game, shooting 5 of 9 from long range. The King Cove native also had a GNAC career-best six rebounds.
