STORYLINES
•   The Wolves will play nationally-ranked Alaska Anchorage this Thursday, Jan. 5 (7 p.m. Pacific) and Alaska on Saturday, Jan. 7 (2 p.m. ) at The 109 inside New P.E. 
•   Western Oregon lost both games last season to the Seawolves and the Nanooks. In January 2016, cold shooting hurt WOU in a 90-39 loss to UAA (1/7) and a 75-55 defeat to Alaska in Fairbanks (1/9). A month later, the Nanooks outscored WOU 22-21 in the fourth quarter to win by one, 62-61. Alaska Anchorage, then ranked No. 2 in the nation, played stellar defense in a 77-42 win in New P.E. 
•   WOU is looking to break losing skids against both schools from the 49th state. Alaska Anchorage has won 25 consecutive games over the last 14 years. Western Oregon picked up its last win over UAA in 2003, a 64-58 decision, in Anchorage. Alaska has won four straight games by sweeping the season series over the last two years. 
•   Both games will have coverage on WOUWolves.com/Live with video and stats.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Wolves could not overcome a 21-point first quarter deficit in falling to Western Washington 86-65 in Bellingham, Wash., at Whatcom Pavilion. After the opening 10 minutes, Western Oregon played even with the Vikings (59-59). Shelby Snook (16), Sydney Azorr (14) and Kaylie Boschma (13) led the scoring for WOU. Two days prior, Western Oregon dropped the opening game of their road trip, a 71-57 decision, at Simon Fraser in Burnaby, B.C. Three players each scored 10 points in the loss to the Clan – Azorr, Savannah Heugly and Ali Nelke (career high).

BALANCED ACT
Through 11 games, the Wolves have five players who average more than 8.5 points per game (Snook, Jasmine Miller, Azorr, Boschma, Heugly). Snook (15.8), Miller (9.6), Boschma (9.1) and Heugly (8.7) all rank among the top 40 in GNAC scoring. Miller and Nelke also rank in the top 20 in rebounding.

WELCOME BACK, LEAH
The WOU women's basketball team added a roster player after the holiday break. Junior forward Leah Nicklason, from Eugene, joined the active roster for the first time since the 2013-14 season. In her debut, she scored two points against Simon Fraser.

PROBABLE STARTING FIVE, PLUS ONE
- Shelby Snook ranks 4th in the GNAC in scoring and 4th in 3-point percentage despite posting her first game of the year with a long distance make at WUU. She has scored in double figures in 7 of 11 games this season, with a season-high 31 points against Saint Martin's (Dec. 3). Snook averages the second most minutes per game in the league (35.6).
- Sydney Azorr made her season debut on Nov. 26 and currently sports a three-game streak of scoring at least 10 points. Azorr would rank in the GNAC's top 40 in scoring, but she has not played enough minuted to qualify for league-wide recognition. She is coming off a season-high 14 points (6-9 FG, 2-3 3FG) at WWU.
- Kaylie Boschma has started every game for the Wolves this season. She has averaged 11 points and four rebounds per game in each of her last three games. Currently averaging 9.1 points and 3. 6 rebounds a game, Boschma has shot over 40 percent in 5 of 11 contests.
- Ali Nelke returned to the starting lineup after an illness kept her out of two games prior to the holidays. Nelke posted a career-high 10 points (4-6 FG) in 29 minutes at Simon Fraser. 
- Savannah Heugly, who has emerged as a strong presence in the paint, has started in the last four games for WOU. She ranks third on the team at 4.6 rebounds a game, just behind Nelke (4.7) and ahead of Snook (4.5).
- Jasmine Miller has the only two double-doubles on the season for the Wolves (12/3 vs. SMU, 12/10 vs. SOU). Miller posted double figures in six of the first eight games but have not reached 10 points in the last three. 

ABOUT ALASKA ANCHORAGE
Midway through his fifth season as Alaska Anchorage's head coach,  Ryan McCarthy has led the Seawolves to the top of the GNAC, the West Region and the national polls with an 11-1 overall record. The lone loss of the year came against Division I Portland in the Great Alaska Shootout. Last week, the Seawolves had no trouble with Montana State Billings on the road, 87-44, in their only game of the week. UAA senior Autummn Williams (17.7 ppg, .531 FG) ranks third in the GNAC in scoring and seventh in field goal percentage. Including Williams, the Seawolves have three players in the league's top 10 in assists - Kiki Robertson (6.4, 2nd), Yazmeen Goo (4.8, 6th), Williams (3.3, 10th).

ABOUT ALASKA
Currently in her fourth season as head coach, Cody Bench had led the Nanooks to a 5-6 overall and 1-3 record in the GNAC. Alaska broke a four-game losing skid with a 71-53 road win at Montana State Billings last week. Senior forward Jordan Wilson is second in the GNAC in scoring entering the week at 22.3 ppg. Kaillee Skjold (14.0) and Jaylee Mays (12.3 ppg) rank sixth and 11th respectively in the league through 11 contest. Skjold is top in the league on the boards grabbing 9.2 rebounds per game.