Monday, March 14, 2016
by Alaska Anchorage Sports Information Department

AZUSA, Calif. – Tournament MVP Alysha Devine had 14 points and eight rebounds to lead a balanced effort for nationally 4th-ranked Alaska Anchorage on Monday night as the Seawolves claimed the NCAA Div. II Women’s Basketball West Regional title with a 72-57 victory over 21st-ranked UC San Diego at the Felix Event Center.

UAA (36-2) also got 13 points apiece from senior guards Jessica Madison andKeiahnna Engel to claim the program’s fourth West Region title and advance to the NCAA Elite Eight. The Seawolves – the No. 2 seed in the West – will face Southeast Regional champion Francis Marion in the national quarterfinals on Mar. 22 in Sioux Falls, S.D.

UCSD (26-5) – the No. 4 seed and co-champion of the California Collegiate Athletic Association – was led by 20 points, five assists and four steals from senior guard Jamie Katuna, but the Tritons could not keep it as close as in their 76-72 loss to UAA on Dec. 20 in Anchorage.

“We’re very pleased to come away with the West Region championship,” said fourth-year UAA head coach Ryan McCarthy. “This was one of our goals at the beginning of the year. Every goal you get to is special, but it just keeps getting better as you go along each step of the way. It’s so hard to win in the (NCAA) tournament … so I’m really proud of this group.”

The Seawolves trailed 16-15 after the first quarter as Katuna opened with 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting. UAA started with a 6-0 run in the second quarter and forged a 31-23 lead before the Tritons came storming back to tie with eight straight points of their own.

UAA answered with two huge plays before halftime, getting a three-point play from Engel and a three-pointer from freshman Tara Thompson on her only shot of the game.

After Devine started the second half with a layup, the Tritons pulled within 39-36 on another Katuna three-pointer, but that would be as close as it would get. Devine knocked down two free throws, Engel hit a short jumper, and Megan Mullingsscored on a putback and was fouled, quickly stretching to a 46-36 edge.

Devine drained a three-pointer to cap the 12-0 spurt, and UAA would lead by at least 13 points the rest of the way, taking advantage of 9-of-17 three-point accuracy. The Seawolves shot 48 percent overall and made 9 of 10 free throws, while dominating the boards with a 45-19 rebounding advantage.

“UC San Diego is a very well coached team, and we talked about before the game that they just don’t ever give up,” McCarthy added “They just are such a mentally tough team. So I’m really proud of our ladies to come away with a victory against such a great team.”

“Offensively it was really difficult to even get ahold of the ball sometimes,” said Mullings, who was held to a season-low three points, but was dominant on defense with four blocks and three steals. “But we absolutely prepared for that, and the coaches did an amazing job presenting the game plan to us. It was just catch and look for the open person, and they were always there.”

Mullings – the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Year and a First Team All-Region honoree – also added five rebounds, two assists and did not commit a turnover.

Engel shot 5 of 8 from the field, while Madison was 4 of 6 from the field and 4 of 5 at the charity stripe, giving her double-figure scoring efforts in all three West Regional games. Devine finished 5 of 10 from the floor, along with a pair of assists.

“Our edge on teams is to just work out of our minds and never, ever stop bringing the pressure,” said Devine, who scored 15 points in Saturday’s 83-79 overtime win over Cal Baptist in the semifinals. “Tonight that really paid off.”

Already with a school record for victories in a season, the Seawolves will now head back home before traveling next week to South Dakota for the NCAA Div. II Elite Eight. UAA will face Francis Marion (24-8) at the Sanford Pentagon on Mar. 22 at 3 p.m. ADT in the national quarterfinals. That game will be televised live nationally on CBS Sports Network.

NOTES: UAA added the 2016 regional title to its trophies from 2008, 2009 and 2012; the Seawolves also beat the Tritons in the 2012 regional final … with its 65th win in the last two seasons, UAA surpassed Limestone for the most in women’s D-II basketball during that span.