LACEY, Wash. – Despite falling behind by 14 to start the game, Saint Martin's outscored No. 4 Alaska Anchorage 22-5 in the second quarter to take the lead into halftime. However, Alaska Anchorage battled back and escaped Marcus Pavilion with a 76-57 victory over SMU.
 
The Saints (5-12, 1-8) switched to a zone defense and shut down the Seawolves (16-1, 9-0) in the second quarter, holding them to 2-for-19 from the field while the Saints shot nearly 53 percent. The Seawolves have only trailed twice at halftime this season, with one against D-I opponent Maryland Eastern Shore. UAA fought through foul trouble and forced turnovers to regain the momentum and the lead, eventually pulling away with a 19-point victory.
 
Alaska Anchorage set the tone early, rattling off the first 14 points of the game before the Saints got on the board at the 5:10 mark on an Emma Kennedy layup. The Seawolves stretched the lead out to as many as 16 in the quarter and carried a 23-9 lead into the second quarter.
 
The tide began to turn with opening baskets by Rebekah Baugh and Kennedy cut the lead down to 10. Elin Johansson scored the next five points to cap-off the Saints' 10-0 run as SMU trimmed the score to 23-18 with 7:00 remaining in the half. UAA scored all five of their second quarter points in a 1:22 minute span to keep the lead at six. The Saints responded with a 3-pointer by Baugh, followed by a Saniah Simpson-Patu jumper, and with 4:30 left, the Saints trailed by one. On the following possession, Makenna Schultz converted in the paint and put SMU up 29-28. A pair of free throws by Johansson closed out the 24-5 run and gave Saint Martin's a 31-28 lead at halftime.
 
The Seawolves regained the lead in the opening minutes of the second half, and never looked back. Starting the half, just like the first half, UAA scored 10 unanswered points over four minutes. Despite baskets by Mercedes Victor and Baugh, the Seawolves stretched out to as many as 15 in the third quarter. The Saints scored five of the last seven points in an attempt to regain momentum the final 10 minutes.
 
In the fourth quarter, the Saints turned to their star players, with Johansson and Schultz scoring the first nine points in the quarter for SMU. However, Alaska Anchorage's defense stood strong and never allowed SMU back into the game, closing out the road victory.
 
Leading the way for SMU was Johansson at 17 points, 13 rebounds, three assists, with only one turnover against one of the best defenses in the country. Baugh came off the bench for eight points, and nine rebounds in 28 minutes of action, while Schultz ended with nine points and three assists. Simpson-Patu and Kennedy each finished with seven points and combined for five rebounds.
 
Saint Martin's shot 20-for-55 (36.4 percent) from the floor, 4-for-15 (26.7 percent) beyond the arc, and 13-for-23 (56.5 percent) at the free throw line. The Saints recorded 40 rebounds, tied for the second most against UAA this season, with 12 assists on 28 turnovers. SMU tallied three blocks and five steals.
 
The Saints will face UAA's travel partner in Alaska Fairbanks on Saturday, Jan 20 at 5:15 p.m. for Pack the Pavilion. Live stats and video will be available on smusaints.com along with a radio broadcast by the Bryant and Clark Sports Connection.