ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The UC San Diego women's basketball team ended the first quarter on a 23-0 run and never looked back, taking down Alaska Fairbanks by a final score of 81-54 to open the Seawolf Hoops Classic, hosted by Alaska Anchorage, Saturday night at Alaska Airlines Arena. UCSD was effective from long range, shooting 46.2 percent (12-26) from behind the arc, and had a season-high 24 assists.
"We had an excellent team win tonight," said head coach Heidi VanDerveer.
The Tritons improve their winning streak to seven and are now 8-1 overall. The Nanooks drop to 5-7 on the season.
Senior guard Jamie Katuna led UCSD with a game-high 18 points on 58.3 percent (7-12) shooting. Junior guard Beth Mounier pitched in 15 points and eight rebounds and senior forward Farrah Shokoor recorded her sixth double-double with 13 points and 12 boards. Redshirt sophomore guard Taylor Tanita dished out a game-best seven assists.
Arinesha Smith was Alaska Fairbank's leading scorer with 17 points.
Tha Nanooks took an early 6-2 advantage to start the game, but the Tritons closed out the opening period with 23 unanswered points from that point. Tanita capped off the run when she found senior forward Cassie MacLeod underneath the basket for a layup right before the buzzer to take a 25-6 advantage.
UCSD outscored Alaska Fairbanks 16-9 in the second frame, with the Tritons getting 12 combined points from Shokoor and Katuna in the quarter. UCSD led 41-15 at halftime.
"We came out and set the tone with our defense in the first half," VanDerveer said. "Our defense turned into offensive transition opportunities."
The Tritons allowed 24 Nanook points in the third period as Jaylee Mays and Smith dominated, scoring a combined 16 points. UCSD scored 19 points in the quarter as the Tritons led by 21, 60-39, going into the final frame.
UCSD closed out the game scoring 21 points in the fourth period, aided by five three-pointeres. The Nanooks scored 15 points in the quarter, but it wasn't enough as the Tritons won by 27.
UCSD will conclude the Seawolf Hoops Classic, taking on host No. 5 Alaska Anchorage on Sunday, Dec. 20. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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