Box Score

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Western Washington University's attempt to upset NCAA Division II No.1 University of Alaska Anchorage fell just short as a potential game-tying 3-pointer rimmed out at the buzzer and the Seawolves claimed an 81-78 victory on Saturday, Feb. 21, in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's basketball contest at Sam Carver Gymnasium on the WWU campus.

Kayla Bernsen (Jr., Moses Lake) had a game-high 20 points and Jenni White (Sr., Spokane/East Valley) added 19 for the Vikings, who had a five-game winning streak snapped and fell to 18-8 overall and 12-5 in the GNAC.

Top-ranked UAA improved to 25-1 with its 13th straight victory, and clinched sole possession of first place in the GNAC and the top-seed in the conference tournament at 15-1. Jessica Madison came off the bench to lead five Seawolves in double figures with 16 points, hitting 4-of-5 3-pointers.

Down five, 79-74, inside the final two minutes, WWU pulled to within one as Bernsen hit two free throws with 1:45 left, then scored on a post-up with 26.1 seconds to go, narrowing the margin to one, 79-78.

Kiki Robertson hit one of two free throws for the Seawolves, giving the Vikings a chance to tie, but UAA's Megan Mullings stopped a Taylor Peacocke (So., Kenmore/Inglemoor) layup attempt with her fourth block.

UAA's KeKe Wright then hit the first of two free throws with 5.3 seconds left, pushing the margin to three, 81-78, but missed the second. White, who matched a career scoring high, then drove upcourt, eluded a defender to get off an off-balance 3-pointer that rimmed out at the buzzer.

Robertson had 13 points for UAA, which shot 56.6 percent (30-of-53) from the field. Wright and Mullings each had 12 points, and Alysha Devine had 10.

Peacocke had 11 points for WWU, and Katie Colard (Sr., McCleary/Elma) added 10.

The Vikings trailed by as much as 12 early in the second half, but used a 12-2 run to close the gap to two, 50-48, with 14:24 left, and eventually tied the game at 56-56 on a Bernsen layin with 11:22 remaining.

The Seawolves again went back up by 10 at 71-61 with 5:36 left, but WWU rallied again, closing to within three, 75-72, with 3:03 left after back-to-back 3-pointers by White.

It was the first loss in the last seven contests at Carver Gym for the Vikings, who are 10-3 at home this season.

WWU ends its regular season at home on Saturday, Feb. 28 (7 p.m.), with a GNAC contest against Simon Fraser University that will be regionally televised on ROOT Sports.