FAIRBANKS, Alaska - Lockdown defense from the Saints proved not to be enough as Alaska Fairbanks overcame Saint Martin's 56-41 on Saturday.

The Saints (5-21, 1-17 GNAC) prevented the Nanooks (13-12, 9-9) from finding their offensive rhythm, holding them to 29.1 percent from the field and 20.0 percent from deep. However, the Saints turned the ball over 21 times and shot 28.8 percent from the field themselves.

Both teams fought to gain an advantage early in the game, with the Saints taking an 11-10 lead on a Elin Johansson basket. After two free throws at the other end of the court to give Alaska the lead, Mercedes Victor found Johansson and the Saints carried a 13-12 lead into the second quarter.

Makenna Schultz opened up the second quarter on a bucket from deep to give the Saints their largest lead of the game. After the Nanooks battled back to tie the game, Victor knocked down a long range bucket and the Saints led 19-16 with 6:54 left in the half. Alaska responded with a 9-2 run to reclaim the lead and never trailed for the remainder of the game.

After trailing 25-22 at half, the Saints cut into the Nanooks lead to open up the third quarter, slimming it down to two with 7:48 left in the quarter. Alaska closed out the quarter on a 17-2 run and took a commanding 44-27 lead.

Baskets from Sami Jo Robinson, Johansson, Schultz and Baylee Olsen proved not be enough in the final stretch as Alaska hung on for the victory.

"It's been a far too familiar formula this season. We play great defensively, we hold teams under their season average, we rebound well but we struggle at times to score" said head coach Tim Healy. "We did not shoot the ball like we had hoped for and we did not help ourselves with 21 turnovers, a lot which we can fix".

Victor led all Saints with 16 points on 5-11 shooting and 2-3 from deep, and grabbed six rebounds. Johansson was the other Saint to score in double-digits with 13 points and eight rebounds.

As a team SMU finished the night 15-52 (.288) from the floor, 4-17 (.235) beyond the arc and 7-12 (.583) at the free throw line. Saint Martin's recorded four assists on 21 turnovers and four blocks and one steal.