ANCHORAGE ? Rebecca Kielpinski and Nicci Miller dominated in the post and the Alaska Anchorage women's basketball team used a stifling defense to win their 2008-09 home opener Saturday, beating Georgian Court 77-33 at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex.
UAA (3-1), ranked No. 5 in the first Division II top-25 poll, got 15 points and nine rebounds from Miller, plus 14 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, two blocks and three steals from Kielpinski.
The Lions (0-2), of Lakewood, N.J., and the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference, were led by 11 points from guard Lauren Staats.
Junior guard Tamar Gruwell scored 10 points to reach double figures for the first time in her young Seawolf career, while point guard Kiki Taylor and reserve guards Elisha Harris and Nikki Aden tallied seven points apiece.
Saturday's result was never in doubt as UAA jumped to a 7-4 lead and then held the Lions without a field goal for the middle 10 minutes of the first half. A 10-0 run late in the half put UAA up 31-10 and things would never get closer.
GCU managed just 20.5 percent shooting (9 of 44) as UAA has now held all of its first four opponents under the 30 percent mark. The Seawolves also dominated on the boards, 50-31, as all 13 players grabbed at least one rebound.
Kielpinski's double-double was the second of the season for the senior All-America center, and the 43rd of her career, extending both her UAA and Great Northwest Athletic Conference records.
The 33 points allowed marked the fourth-fewest ever given up by UAA against a fellow Division II program.
The Seawolves return to the court Thursday night, Nov. 20, for the first of back-to-back games against Colorado Christian. Tip-off both nights is 7 p.m. at the WFSC.
