ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Despite a 43-point second half, the San Francisco State women's basketball team was held off by the Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks, 71-66, on Saturday to open up the season at the D2 West Region Classic

By the Numbers

• The Gators (0-1) won the turnover battle, 19-13, but struggled offensively early on, shooting just 24 percent (9-38) from the floor. SF State turned it on in the second half, outscoring the Nanooks, 43-33 and outshooting them, 41 percent to 31 percent.
• Kelea Pickeral-Dennis came up big off the bench, scoring 19 points and hauling in 16 boards, which are the most rebounds by a Gator in 18 contests.
• Taimane Lesa-Hardee added 11 points, eight rebounds and two steals. Ashley Hart dropped 15 points and had a huge and-one three in the closing minutes to keep SF State within reach. 
• Samantha Erisman led all players with five assists.

First Quarter

SF State leveled the score at ten-all with a 6-0 run capped off by a Hart layup. The Nanooks bounced back to go on a run of their own, this time of seven points, before a Pickeral-Dennis free throw ended the surge. The Gators struggled from deep, going 0-for-7 from three-point range, but were able to work their way to the line eight times in the first ten minutes of action. 

Second Quarter

A Pickeral-Dennis drive and finish started the second and narrowed the deficit to four. Zosha Krupa sparked a 9-0 run with a three that put Alaska Fairbanks up 26-13 until Erisman knocked down a jumper off a nice pass form Giselle Mahinay. Jolene Armendariz and Madison Corder added buckets down the stretch, and Pickeral-Dennis cut it to seven with another layup with 4:09 left in the half. However once again, the Nanooks put together another run of nine points to end the half as they now lead 38-23 heading into the break.

Third Quarter

Lesa-Hardee countered with a three in the third and Hart followed that made it 45-31 as part of a 20-point frame as the Gators looked to battle back. Corder made it a 12-point contest with a jumper from just outside the paint, and Pickeral-Dennis added three from the charity stripe as SF State trailed just nine going into the fourth. 

Fourth Quarter

Corder and Hart knocked down buckets to start the fourth. Armendariz made a jumper as part of an 8-0 run with 4:26 left that narrowed the deficit to five, 60-55, however the Nanooks got three right back to widened their lead to eight. With 2:12 left in regulation, Hart hit a big triple off an assist from Erisman, and completed the and-one play that made it a three-point game. Alaska Fairbanks got baskets from Sabrina Ungaro and Samantha Saccomen to go back up seven, 68-61, but Erisman cut it to five with her second field goal of the day. Despite the late push, the Nanooks worked their way to the line to hold off the Gators.

Up Next

SF State wraps up the tournament against No. 16 Alaska Anchorage tomorrow at 6 p.m. PT. Live results and a stream will be provided.