FAIRBANKS, Alaska – MSU Billings lost a tightly contested-game to Alaska Fairbanks, 74-55, Thursday night in the Patty Center.
 
In a fight for spots five and six in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference postseason, it was the Nanooks who came out on top in a big-time effort from both teams as each makes their final stands this weekend for a berth in the conference tournament.
 
Kayleen Goggins finished with a game-high 24 points. Sophomore Alisha Breen completed a double-double with 12 points and a career-high 16 rebounds. MSUB led off the glass 51-46, and had 22 offensive boards to the Nanooks' 14, but committed 19 turnovers leading to 21 points for Alaska, while MSUB made just five points from 14 total Nanook turnovers.
 
MSU Billings finished the game shooting 19-71 and 26.8 percent. The team was also 4-17 from the 3-point arc (23.5 percent) and 13-17 from the free-throw line (76.5 percent). Alaska was 26-22 for 39.6 percent from the field, with 4-13 from 3-point territory (30.8 percent) and 18-24 from the free-throw line (75.0 percent).
 
The first half was fast-paced, but a shifting effort from both teams. Offensive rebounds kept MSUB in the game, but inconsistent defense and a persistent Nanook team kept the Yellowjackets from making any sustained run on the scoreboard.
 
UAF opened the game with a 9-4 advantage. The Yellowjackets battled back, trying to remain patient. MSU Billings was able to take a 12-11 lead back on a pass inside to Breen from Goggins. Marissa Van Atta made a steal for MSUB and passed the ball to Quinn Peoples who drained a three to take a 15-11 lead with 11:54 remaining. On the next MSU Billings possession, Rylee Kane was blocked by UAF's Kaillee Skjold, but Breen came through with the offensive rebound and put-back to go up, 17-13.
 
Offensive rebounds continued to keep MSUB in the game. Alaska's Jordan Wilson made a bank-shot to pull the Nanooks to within one, 19-18 with 7:31 left in the first half. Breen, with one second on the shot-clock, made a great shot after the inbounds from Courtney Henry on the second attempt after the first inbound from Van Atta got knocked out by Alaska.
 
Wilson gave the Nanooks the lead back, 22-21 with 5:37 remaining. Working inside the paint, Goggins slipped the score back, 23-22. MSUB's Breen was fouled under the basket after a long pass from Kane, but put in both free-throws to tie up the game 25-25 with three minutes remaining.
 
A quick couple of turnovers from MSUB, and unable to score on their last three possession, the Yellowjackets headed into the locker room down by two, 27-25 at the break.
 
In the first five minutes of second-half play, the Nanooks opened with a 9-0 run. On a 3-pointer from UAF, Autumn Childers opened up a 7-point lead, and Skjold added four more points on a jump shot and a layup to give Alaska an 11-point advantage, 36-25.
 
Annie DePuydt hit the first points of the half for the Yellowjackets. Breen added another two from free throws, but Alaska continued to increase pressure. Peoples closed the gap to nine, 43-34 with 12:14 remaining. Goggins added four on a free throw, plus a 3-pointer after a miss on her second free throw, but a pass from DePuydt after she grabbed an offensive rebound pulled MSUB to within five, 45-40 with 10 minutes left.
 
The Yellowjackets kept it to within four, as Kane made a break-through layup with seven minutes left. Into the remaining minutes, the Nanooks responded with an 8-1 run. Wilson made it an 11-point lead on two free throws, 59-48 at 4:34 left.
 
MSUB began to falter as Alaska used solid defense down the stretch. In the final 1:30, the Nanooks finished the game on a 12-2 ending run, with 10 of those points coming from free-throws.
 
With a game-high 24 points, Goggins was the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game. With 16 rebounds, Breen set a new career-high. Peoples matched her career-high of 12 rebounds while adding in six points for the 'Jackets.
 
"Give Fairbanks credit tonight, I thought they defended us well," MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin said. "We didn't shoot the ball very well; 19-71 isn't indicative of what we usually do, and I am sure they had a part in that. I also felt we turned over the ball too many times. Offensively we weren't executing as much as we needed. I felt we made a nice run to get back in the game, but fell a little short in the end."
 
With the win from Alaska, both schools are at an even 14-13 overall and 6-11 in the conference. On Saturday, MSUB travels to Anchorage to face the No. 1 team in the nation, the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves, while Alaska hosts the No. 19 team in the country, Seattle Pacific.
 
With wins tonight, both Central Washington and Saint Martin's moved to 7-11 in the GNAC, tying for fifth place in the conference standings. In order for MSUB to make the postseason tournament, the Yellowjackets would have to win in Anchorage.
 
"We are looking forward to playing in Anchorage on Saturday in a must-win situation," Coach Woodin said. "We have an excellent team, and I am confident they will play better than they did tonight."
 
UP NEXT: MSU Billings travels to Anchorage to face-off against the No. 1 in the nation Alaska Anchorage Seawolves. The Yellowjackets play their last regular-season game on Saturday, Feb. 28 at the early time of 3 p.m. Mountain Time. Live video and live stats can be found at msubsports.com.