By: Mackenzie Dalgleish
Box Score
Burnaby, BC - The Simon Fraser University Clan women's basketball team (5-1) were able to win their fourth game in six days, and also their fifth straight game of the season on Wednesday night, 89-74 over the Academy of Art University Urban Knights in the West Gym.
After starting slow last night against the Urban Knights, SFU got off to a fast start leading 11-4 at the first media timeout. This was thanks in large part to senior Marie-Line Petit (Bergeronnes, QC), who made eight of her 14 points during the stretch, while also finishing the game with five rebounds and four assists.
"Offensively we scored 89 points and you have to be pleased with that," Head Coach Bruce Langford said following the game. "I thought we shot the ball well for most of the game."
Overall, the Clan shot 48.5 percent from the field and 34.5 percent from the three-point line.
Being able to score almost at will in the first half, SFU saw their lead extend to fifteen points by the half as the team led 41-26 after the opening twenty minutes of play.
The past three games had seen the Clan have to come from behind at some point later in the game, something that was not needed tonight. Outside of AAU scoring the opening basket, SFU led for 39 minutes and nine seconds of the game.
Academy of Art would make a game of it though in the second half as they cut the deficit to eight points just 3:35 in. However, junior Katie Lowen (Lethbridge, AB) would come alive and start making some big shots, including all four of her three-pointers in the game in the final 20 minutes.
"I thought we did a really good job staying composed," said Lowen. "There were definitely some ups and downs throughout the game and it was nice to see people step up. We got a little nervous when they started to comeback. At that point though everything turns to emotion and you just have to let all of the practice that you have put in, fall into place."
Lowen would finish with a game high 27 points, while also adding seven rebounds on the night as the Clan were able to win the battle along the boards, outrebounding the physical Urban Knights 45-35.
"Katie said to me at halftime she couldn't hit a three and I said what are you talking about? She's that good of an athlete, she had a couple big league moves," Langford explained on Lowen's night and coming through when needed. "We expected that from her (this year), so we're pleased with that."
Seeing their lead shrink to just four points, 64-60 with 8:40 left in the game, Lowen and company would go to work, as the team was able to pull away, coasting to the 15 point victory.
"It was rewarding, but it was nice to see people step up," Lowen said on her big night. "It was nice to make some shots but I didn't do it alone, my teammates got me the ball."
After turning the ball over 21 times last night and allowing 25 points off turnovers, SFU were able to clamp down and have better ball control for much of the game. Holding a fifteen point lead at the half, the teams would both score 48 points in the final 20 minutes of play.
"They got a lot more physical," Langford said on the difference from the first half to second. "They played so much zone in the first half we were kind of stationary and it took us a while to adjust, but we ended up turning it around."
Junior Erin Chambers (Mission, BC) would finish with 25 points and 10 rebounds, good enough for another double-double, while Meg Wilson (London, ON) almost finished with a double-double of her own as she had 9 points and 9 rebounds. Alisa Griggs would lead the way for AAU in scoring with 22 points.
SFU will be off for over a week before getting back in action on December 7 at home against the Western Washington Vikings. It will be the first meeting between the two teams since their 'Sweet 16' meeting back in March.
Tip-off will be at 7:30 p.m. in the west gym and student admission is free.
