Courtesy:: Michael Dinneen / UAA Athletics Junior guard Kaitlin McBride had 6 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists in her Seawolf debut.
ANCHORAGE – Senior forward Nicci Miller equaled her career-high with 19 points Sunday as the 8th-ranked Alaska Anchorage women’s basketball team cruised to a 100-48 victory over Hawaii Hilo in both teams’ season-opener at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex.
Sophomore forward Hanna Johansson added 16 points on near-perfect shooting for the Seawolves, whose 60.3 percent shooting was the best in 4th-year head coach Tim Moser’s tenure.
The Vulcans were led by 13 points from All-Pacific West Conference guard Hina Kimitete, but UAA’s pressure forced the visitors into 34 turnovers and held them to just 29.5 percent shooting.
UAA took complete control from the start with a 9-0 run and went into the halftime break with a 48-20 lead. The Seawolves would not let up in the second stanza, either, as senior guard Leah Stepovich scored all 11 of her points after the break, including three consecutive three-pointers.
Senior point guard Kiki Taylor had 12 points, four assists and four steals, while Miller and junior point guard Kaitlin McBride tied for game-high honors with seven rebounds apiece. McBride, a transfer from Yakima Valley (Wash.) Community College, also tied with junior Nikki Aden in dishing a game-high five assists.
In all, thirteen Seawolves got into the scoring column as UAA reached the century mark for the third time under Moser and the 28th time in program history.
Miller finished 9-of-13 from the field, while Johansson was 6-of-7 from the field and 4-of-4 at the free-throw line. Taylor sank 4-of-5 attempts, while reserves Torle Nenbee (3-3), Kelsie Gourdin (3-3), Brittany Collins (2-2) and Jordan Martin (1-1) didn’t miss a shot.
UAA also dominated with a 42-16 advantage on the boards, holding the Vulcans to the third-fewest opponent rebounds in Seawolf history.
The same two teams will meet for a rematch Monday at 7 p.m. at the WFSC.
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Courtesy:: Michael Dinneen / UAA Athletics
