Women's Basketball | 2/20/2013 11:39:00 AM

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL - WESTERN OREGON AT ALASKA FAIRBANKS
Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013 – 6:15 p.m. – Fairbanks, Alaska

LIVE VIDEO: WOU TV (Stretch Internet)
LIVE STATS: http://www.sidearmstats.com/uaf/wbball

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL - WESTERN OREGON AT ALASKA ANCHORAGE
Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013 – 6:15 p.m. – Monmouth, Ore.

LIVE VIDEO: WOU TV (Stretch Internet)
LIVE STATS: WOU TV (Stretch Internet)

MONMOUTH, Ore. - The Western Oregon women's basketball team returns to action this week as it resumes conference play when the Wolves travel to Alaska Fairbanks on Thursday, Feb. 21, at 6:15 p.m. before a meeting with Alaska Anchorage on Saturday, Feb. 23 at 6:15 p.m.

After falling last week on the road at Saint Martin's, the Wolves enter the week with a record of 8-16 overall and 3-11 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) action. This week's contests mark the return of head women's basketball coach Greg Bruce as he resumes full-time coaching duties after taking a medical leave of absence.

Leading the nation and league in free throw shooting at 95.3 percent (61-of-64), freshman forward Mariah Durian continues to lead the team in scoring, averaging 11.8 points per game.  Offensively, the Wolves are averaging 61.7 points per contest while shooting 38.9 percent from the field.

Senior guard Lorrie Clifford also averages in double figures (11.6 ppg) and leads the team in assists (2.9 per game).  The senior continues to climb the WOU NCAA Division II record books as she ranks in the top five in school history in games started (1st, 105), games played (2nd, 109), points (4th, 826), three-point field goals made (4th, 85) and assists (2nd, 236).

On the defensive side of the ball, Dana Goularte continues to be the leader, leading the Wolves in rebounds (5.9 rebounds per game), steals (2.2 steals per game), and blocks (25). As a team, the Wolves give up an average of 66.3 ppg.

After losing on the road to Northwest Nazarene before a victory at Central Washington, Alaska Fairbanks enters the week with a record of 3-20 overall and 1-14 in GNAC play. The win over the Wildcats snapped a 13-game losing streak for the Nanooks.
Junior guard April Fultz leads the Nanooks in scoring, averaging 12.0 points per game as the Nanooks average 63.3 points per contest while allowing opponents to score at a 74.6 ppg clip.

Alaska Anchorage enters the week with a record of 14-9 overall and 8-7 in GNAC action following wins last week on the road against Central Washington and Northwest Nazarene.

Senior guard Sasha King leads the Seawolves in scoring (16.5 ppg), assists (5.9 apg), and steals (2.9 spg) as the Seawolves average 70.0 points per game while giving up an average of 66.1 points per contest.

Earlier this season, WOU dropped a hard-fought contest to Alaska Anchorage before defeating Alaska Fairbanks, 67-61.

Following this week's action, the Wolves return home to close out their season against Simon Fraser on Thursday, Feb. 28 at 7:00 p.m. and Western Washington on Saturday, March 2 at 2:00 p.m.