Saint Martin’s U snaps out of five-game losing streak, beats Alaska Fairbanks at home

The Saint Martin’s University women’s basketball team finally returned to the winning column and overcame a five-game losing skid as they dominated the University of Alaska Fairbanks, 71-61, at home at the Marcus Pavilion in Lacey on Sunday afternoon.

With the university also celebrating Senior Night, it was senior guard Anjel Galbraith who had the time of her life and pulled the strings in the hardcourt as the 5’4” guard played all 40 minutes of the game and got 17 points, six rebounds, and eight assists.

5-foot-4 senior guard Anjel Galbraith taking a freethrow for the Saints. She finished the game with 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists.

“They wanted to finish on a high note, and they wanted more for themselves. Props to them for doing it tonight,” said Head Coach Natalie Marlowe, referring to the remarkable performances of the outgoing seniors on the roster.

Sophomore forward Sarah Lamet led the scoring for the Saints with 22 points at 64% field goal percentage despite starting from the bench as the Saints clinched just their second win this February.

The Saints dominated most of the ball game and led by as much as 13 early in the first half until the Kanooks launched a comeback late in the fourth quarter and found themselves trailing by one at 62-61 with two minutes left.

But the Saints shrugged this late scare as they stayed composed and continued with their 2-3 zone defense, which puzzled the Alaskan attack throughout the game, while Galbraith’s pulsating pace and quick passing initiated the fastbreaks, which led to a quick 6-0 response for the Saints that wiped all chances for a choke job and seal the home victory.

“My teammates just make it so easy to spread the ball. I get more excited for when they score than when I score,” said Galbraith after the match.

It was a nervy first few minutes of the game for the Saints as they danced on the exchange of jumpers with the visiting Kanooks, before the Saints barged to a quick 9-2 run after jumpers from Rian Clear and layups from Lauryn Morris, added by the facilitation by Galbraith and a dominant Lamet in the paint to dictate the pace and balloon to a 27-16 lead for the hosts in the first quarter.

The second quarter remained the same, with head coach Natalie Marlowe rotating her players to ensure fresh legs on play while continuing their zone defense, which, despite its simplicity, has worked wonders to stifle the Alaskan offense as they go to halftime leading 37-29.

A small scare startled the Saints early in the third quarter as Alaska’s Destiny Reimers and Ellen Silva combined for a quick 6-0 run at 7 minutes to try to breathe through the Saint’s neck, but this run was countered by back-to-back threes from Sarah Lamet and another jumper from senior guard Keeli Jade Smith as the Saints cling to a 7-point lead approaching the closing salvo, 52-45.

Little did they know this was similar, but this time, it was a tighter scenario in the match's closing minutes.

The Saints improved to a 6-17 overall record as they played their final home game for the current NCAA Div II season. They will play next at Central Washington University on February 29 and at Northwest Nazarene on March 2 as their final two fixtures.

The Saints huddle up as they celebrate the home win against Alaska Fairbanks