Complete Box Score

FAIRBANKS, Ak. (Feb. 17) Beth Christensen scored a career-high 22 points, including clutch free-throw shooting down the stretch, and the Falcons put together a superb second half to recapture the Great Northwest Athletic Conference lead with a 74-66 victory over host Alaska Fairbanks Saturday afternoon at the Patty Center.

Christensen (Jr., 5-5, Enumclaw, Wa.) poured in 16 points in the second half alone and made 7-of-8 free throws in the final 1:38 to seal the victory as the Falcons (9-3 GNAC, 16-7) snapped a two-game skid and recaptured a half-game lead over Western Washington (9-4), who lost 64-58 at Northwest Nazarene.

The teams were tied 24-24 at halftime, but Kelsey Hill (So., 6-2, Portland, Or./Portland Christian) hit a jumper in the opening minute of the second half, and Fairbanks (4-9, 9-15) never recaptured the lead. The Falcons led by six with nine minutes left in the contest when Autumn Fielding (Sr., 5-9, Kennewick, Wa.) scored five straight points to open a 10-2 run, capped off by a Christensen lay-up to give Seattle Pacific a 14-point advantage with 6:20 remaining.

The Nanooks pulled to within six with 1:06 left to play and then five with 42 seconds remaining, but Fielding hit all four of her free-throw attempts and Christensen went 2-for-2 from the line to thwart the late comeback effort.

Four Falcons scored in double figures, three of them scored at least 10 in the second half including Christensen. Fielding scored all 12 of her points in the second half and also had three steals. Hill, who was plagued by early foul troublem, scored 11 of her 13 points and grabbed all six of her rebounds in the second frame.

Libby Magnusson (Jr., 5-10, White Bear Lake, Mn.) was also in double figures for the Falcons with 12 points in 21 minutes off the bench.

The Nanooks also had four players in double figures, led by Kari Reabold’s 20 points and game-high eight rebounds. Karen Rabung and Caitlyn Rohrbach added 11 points each, and Cristina Bruketta scored 10.

Both teams were ice cold in the first half, combining for just 48 points, while the Falcons scored 50 points alone in the second half. SPU shot just 26 percent (8-31) in the opening 20 minutes, but caught fire in the second half with a 58-percent (14-24) performance.

The Falcons shot 80 percent (24-30) from the foul line to help their cause and scored 27 points off 27 UAF turnovers. The Nanooks went 15-for-21 from the free-throw line and had a 41-31 advantage in rebounding.

The Falcons now control their own destiny in seeking their fourth GNAC title in the past five seasons with four games remaining, including two against teams in the title chase. Seattle Pacific is at home for the first two, including a showdown with Western Washington next Saturday. First, the Falcons host Western Oregon Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

SEATTLE PACIFIC UNIV 74, ALASKA FAIRBANKS 66
SEATTLE PACIFIC UNIV (9-3, 16-7) Christensen,Beth 6-13 8-9 22; Hill,Kelsey 3-6 7-9 13; Fielding,Autumn 3-6 4-4 12; Magnuson,Libby 5-11 0-2 12; Christensen,Jessie 1-5 3-4 5; Hollands,Jackie 2-4 0-0 4; Strand,Rachel 1-3 2-2 4; Hoisington,Megan 1-3 0-0 2; Menkens,Jessie 0-0 0-0 0; Henderson,Daesha 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 22-55 24-30 74.
ALASKA FAIRBANKS (4-9, 9-15) Reabold,Kari 7-13 5-7 20; Rohrbach,Caitlyn 2-9 7-8 11; Rabung,Karen 4-6 3-4 11; Bruketta,Cristina 4-11 0-0 10; Herrin,Sarah 4-10 0-0 8; Shumate,Joscelyn 2-5 0-0 4; Seagraves,Mia 1-2 0-2 2; Black,Brittany 0 0 0-0 0. Totals 24-56 15-21 66.

Seattle Pacific Univ.......... 24 50 - 74 
Alaska Fairbanks.............. 24 42 - 66

Halftime-SPU 24, UAF 24. 3-point goals-Seattle Pacific Univ 6-17 (Magnuson,Libby 2-3; Fielding,Autumn 2-3; Christensen,Beth 2-5; Hollands,Jackie 0-2; Strand,Rachel 0-1; Henderson,Daesha 0-3), Alaska Fairbanks 3-14 (Bruketta,Cristina 2-9; Reabold,Kari 1-2; Herrin,Sarah 0-1; Rohrbach,Caitlyn 0-2). Fouled out--Seattle Pacific Univ-None, Alaska Fairbanks-Bruketta,Cristina; Seagraves,Mia. Rebounds-Seattle Pacific Univ 31 (Hill,Kelsey 6), Alaska Fairbanks 41 (Reabold,Kari 8). Assists-Seattle Pacific Univ 10 (Magnuson,Libby 2; Hollands,Jackie 2; Christensen,Beth 2), Alaska Fairbanks 11 (Seagraves,Mia 2; Rabung,Karen 2; Reabold,Kari 2; Shumate,Joscelyn 2; Rohrbach,Caitlyn 2). Total fouls-Seattle Pacific Univ 17, Alaska Fairbanks 20. A-327.