Wasilla grad, UAA women play for national hoops title

WASILLA — A Wasilla High School graduate will try to help the UAA women’s basketball team make history Monday, and Valley residents can catch it live on national television.

UAA junior Alysha Devine and the Seawolves face Lubbock Christian in the NCAA Division II women’s national championship game at 11 a.m. ADT at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The game is nationally televised on the CBS Sports Network. MTA DTV customers can see the game on channels 158 and 858. The game will also be available to Dish Network and Direct TV customers.

Devine, a 6-foot-1 forward, is listed as a probable starter for the 38-2 Seawolves. The 2013 Wasilla High graduate and Gatorade Alaska Player of the Year is averaging 8.7 points and 5.0 rebounds per game for UAA. She’s shooting 48 percent from the field, and 45 percent from behind the arc.

Monday marks UAA’s first appearance in a women’s national title game in program history.

Devine earned tournament MVP honors after leading the Seawolves to the West Region crown. The Wasilla grad collected 14 points and eight rebounds in a 72-57 victory over UC San Diego in the West Region final.

UAA entered the national tournament as the No. 2 seed in the West Region after claiming its second straight Great Northwest Athletic Conference championship.

Devine has appeared in 75 career games during her three years with the Seawolves, starting 41.

As a high school player, Devine helped the Warriors win three straight 4A girls state titles. Wasilla finished 30-0 during Devine’s senior year. As a senior Devine averaged 11.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.0 steals.

Wasilla was 67-4 during Devine’s three seasons at the varsity level.