FAIRBANKS, Alaska --- The Western Oregon women's basketball team took down Alaska 82-73 Thursday in the Patty Center, opening GNAC play in the win column.

The Wolves (3-4 overall, 1-0 GNAC) started off hot, making their first seven shots and quickly taking a 16-11 lead into the first media timeout. The Wolves and Nanooks (5-3, 0-1) then locked in a tight contest for the remainder of the half, with the lead changing hands eight times before Bella Pedrojetti's buzer-beating 3-pointer secured the Wolves a 39-38 lead headed into halftime.

WOU started the second half just as hot, quickly taking an eight point lead over Alaska and scoring ten points in the first 2 minutes and 12 seconds. Alaska fought back late on the third, briefly holding a 61-60 lead to start the fourth quarter before a layup by Selai Niu from Ciona Wells with 8:27 remaining put the Wolves in front for the final time, never allowing the lead to change hands again and securing the Wolves first win of conference play.

Pedrojetti led the Wolves in scoring with 36 points while Natalie Brown tallied 14 rebounds and 10 points, claiming her third double-double on the young seven-game season. Niu finished with 17 points and nine rebounds and Enid Vaifanua had 10 points, six rebounds and five assists. Wells recorded 11 assists in the game - the most assists for a Wolf in a single game in over two decades (last done Dec. 20, 2002 by Erica Matthews) and tied for the second most in the program's NCAA-era, behind only Becky Gregory's 13 in Dec. 2001.

The Wolves continue their Alaska road trip Saturday, taking on Alaska Anchorage 8:30 p.m. PT.