Coming Up – Alaska Anchorage (January 18, Lacey, Washington, 7:00 p.m.), Alaska (January 20, Lacey, Washington, 5:15 p.m.).

COMPLETE MEDIA GUIDE
 
Live Stats/Live Video – Live Stats and Live Video of SMU's Basketball Games will be available with links found on smusaints.com. Live stats and video will be produced by the Host School.
 
Listen On Bryant and Clark Sports Connection – For the first time this season, the women's game will be broadcasted on the Bryant and Clark Sports Connection. Links to the broadcast can be found on smusaints.com and don't forgot to follow them on Facebook (The Bryant and Clark Sports Connection).
 
Social Media – Follow the Saints on Twitter (@Saints_WBB) and follow SMU Athletics on Facebook (Saint Martin's Saints), Twitter (SMUAthletics), Instagram (saints_athletics) and YouTube (SMU Athletics).
 
Ticket Information - SMU students get in free to all SMU home games with a valid student ID card and tickets are available for only six dollars. Seniors/Military/Non-SMU Students get in for four dollars. Children under the age of 11 get in free. Tickets can be purchased at the door or by calling Abbey Bergquist at 360-438-4305.
 
Saints Fall Short North Of The Border – Tough shooting night north of the border and a perfect 21-for-21 at the line by Simon Fraser resulted in the Saints falling to the Clan 71-52 on Thursday night. The Saints (5-10, 1-6) led early in the game and Saniah Simpson-Patu ended with 21 points; however, Simon Fraser (8-7, 3-4) pulled away in the second and fourth quarters to close out the victory.
 
Western Washington Out Paces The Saints – Saint Martin's trimmed Western Washington's lead down to three in the fourth quarter; however, the Vikings fought off the Saints to earn the 69-58 victory. The Saints' starters scored 49 of the Saints' 58 points, as Sara Bowen as the only player off the bench with points at nine. Saint Martin's cut into a double-digit lead multiple times throughout the night, but were unable to complete the comeback and fell on the road.
 
Johansson Chasing History – After 22 points last week, Elin Johansson has scored 971 points in her career. She is 29 points away from becoming only the eighth player in school history to reach the 1,000 point mark in the NCAA-era.
 
Johansson Remains Near The Top Of Conference Leaderboard – Johansson, who battled foul trouble in both games last week, responded with back-to-back 11 point performances. Despite the foul trouble, she still ranks third in scoring (15.6), second in field goal percentage (51.4), fifth in minutes played (31.3), seventh in blocked shots (0.9), 11th in rebounding (6.5), and 11th in defensive (4.3) rebounding.
 
Simpson-Patu Rises On Leaderboards After Hot Start – One of the top freshman in the conference and country, Simpson-Patu rose up on the GNAC Leaderboard after two explosive games. She began the conference season with 16-points, seven rebounds and two assists, in 29 minutes against Western Oregon. Leading the Saints over Concordia, Simpson-Patu scored a career-high 23 points, along with six rebounds, four assists on 9-for-15 shooting. She continued her run with a 21-point, and career-high 14-rebounds, for her first collegiate double-double against Oklahoma Christian and seven points and nine rebounds against MSUB. Simpson-Patu hit the 20-point mark for the third time with 21 points against Simon Fraser. She now ranks fifth in scoring (14.2), fourth in defensive rebounding (5.5) sixth in rebounding (7.3), seventh in minutes played (30.6).
 
Schultz, Developing Into A Star – Sophomore Makenna Schultz is finding her way, inside a competitive GNAC, after scoring a then career-high 20 points against Western Oregon. She shot 8-for-13 from the field with two 3-pointers along with setting a career-high in rebounds with eight. Schultz eclipsed the double-digit scoring average with a 14-point performance at Seattle Pacific, along with six rebounds. She was once again a spark off the bench against MSUB with 15 points and six rebounds. She earned a spot in the starting lineup and reward Christy Martin with a 13-point, 3-steal performance against CWU and a new career-high 22 points versus NNU. Schultz is now third on the team in scoring at 11.2 ppg, which ranks 22nd in conference, along with 3.1 rpg and 1.6 apg.
 
Saints' Defense Locking Down On Opponents – Defense has proven to be one of the Saints' strengths this season, holding Western Oregon and Concordia to .342 and .328 percent respectively from the field, followed by stuffing MSUB to 29.6 percent. Both WOU and CU struggled to find space beyond the arc as well, going 5-for-19 and 5-for-20 respectively. SMU followed up those performances by silencing CWU to 32.7 percent from the field. The Saints rank third in conference, holding their opponents to 37.3 percent overall.
 
Saniah Simpson-Patu Named Saint of the Month – Every month Saint Martin's selects one male and female athlete as Saint of the Month. Simpson-Patu after dominating opponents in the month of December and proving to be one of the best players in the conference, has earned the Saint of the Month award. The award marks her first of the collegiate career. 
 
Alaska Anchorage Preview – The Saints will face more than likely their toughest opponent all season in the Seawolves on Thursday night. Alaska Anchorage enters the game No. 5 in the country and sits 15-1 overall and 8-0 in conference action. Leading the Seawolves is Shelby Cloninger, who leads in scoring (14.1 ppg) and rebounding (6.5) in only 24 mpg. Close behind is Hannah Wandersee who is second in scoring (13.9 ppg) and rebounding (6.4 rpg) along with her 1.5 bpg. Rodericka Ware is the third Seawolf to average at least double-digits per game at 10.1 ppg. Tara Thompson, Yazmeen Goo and Kian McNair all play major minutes and combine for nearly 25 ppg, 8 rpg, and 10 apg. As a team, Alaska Anchorage averages 79.8 ppg while allowing 60.7 ppg. The Seawolves shot as a unit 44.2 percent from the field, 35.7 percent beyond the arc, and 73.4 percent at the line. UAA records 37.9 rpg, 20.6 apg on 15.9 turnovers per game, along with 14.1 spg and 3.3 bpg.
 
Projected Starters For UAA:
G Yazmeen Goo, G Tara Thompson, G Kian McNair, F Shelby Cloninger, F Hannah Wandersee
 
Alaska Preview –Alaska will be looking for their first win in conference, traveling to Seattle Pacific before heading to Marcus Pavilion to face the Saints. The Nanooks are 4-10 on the season and 0-8 in conference and are currently on a five game losing streak. Lexi Carpenter is the only member for Alaska averaging over double-digits, coming in at 13.9 ppg. Carpenter adds 3.1 rpg and 1.0 spg in nearly 30 mpg. Ashlie Blackburn, in only 20 minutes of action, is second on the team in scoring at 8.0 ppg along with her team leading 6.7 rpg. Emily Evans and Angela Murnion are the two Nanooks who also average over five ppg, at 6.9 and 6.1 ppg respectively. As a team, UAF is averaging 58.5 ppg, while allowing 65.8 ppg. The Nanooks are shooting the ball 37.3 percent from the field, 31.7 percent from beyond the arc, and 65.6 percent at the line. UAF records 39.9 rpg, 12.9 apg on 20.6 turnovers per game, along with 8.4 spg, and 2.5 bpg.
 
Projected Starters For UAF:
G Sabrina Ungaro, G Angela Murnion, G Lexi Carpenter, F Ashlie Blackburn, C Josie Sewell
 
GNAC Recap – Alaska Anchorage once again won both conference games and improved to 8-0 in conference action and 15-1 overall. Seattle Pacific and Northwest Nazarene are tied for the second spot in conference at 6-2 while Montana State Billings remains close behind at 5-3. Concordia fell to 5-4 with their loss earlier this week, while Central Washington at 4-4 rounds out the playoff cut. Western Oregon moved up to 4-5, ahead of Simon Fraser and Western Washington at 3-5, while Saint Martin's and Alaska round out the standings at 1-7 and 0-8 respectively.