By: Jade Richardson
Box Score
Burnaby, BC – In a highly anticipated match on Burnaby Mountain, the Simon Fraser University women`s basketball team were able to defeat the number four ranked Western Washington University Vikings 74-59, dealing the visitors their first loss of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference season.
“We had a couple of lazy screens and interchanges,” said head coach
Bruce Langford. “After the timeout we talked about needing to stay with [Corinn Waltrip] and [Katie Colard] and switch every screen at the three so there would be no space [for them to shoot].”
Katie Lowen (Lethbridge, AB) led the Clan`s campaign with 17 points shooting four for five from outside the arc and three for four on free throws.
Junior guard
Marie-Line Petit (Bergeonnes, QC) and senior
Carla Wyman (Vancouver, BC) had critical nights for the Clan coming off the bench to provide 13 points each on the night.
Petit was a perfect five for five from the floor, including three for three on three pointers.
Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe (Toronto, ON) and
Erin Chambers (Mission, BC) both added 11 points to the home side`s victory, while Viking Corinn Waltrip led her team with 16 points.
The Clan edged the visitors in points off turnovers 23-19 and points in the paint, 30-26. It was the Clan's bench that really gave the home side an edge, outscoring WWU's 32-9.
Western Washington scored the first four points of the game but the Clan responded moments later after Raincock-Ekunwe and Lowen were able to combine for five points to earn the home side`s first lead.
After the score was briefly tied at five, the Vikings took advantage of the Clan's shooting struggles and went on a 12-6 run, to take a six point lead with 9:45 left in the half at 17-11.
Moments later, Petit provided a spark for the Clan, scoring eight points in five minutes giving the home side a seven point lead.
The Vikings caught back up to tie the game moments before the half, but Petit was able to drop another three and cash in on a lay-up to put the Clan in front, 35-32, as the teams headed to the locker rooms.
In the second half the Clan established an early lead adding 13 points to their total only six minutes into the period.
The Clan shooters finally found their range as
Kristina Collins (Port Coquitlam, BC), Wyman and Chambers each dropped three-pointers on consecutive trips down the floor.
SFU pushed to what seemed like a comfortable 19 point lead with eight minutes to go, but the Vikings were not prepared to go down easy.
Following a pair of Clan turnovers, Western Washington went on a nine point run, closing the gap and forcing the home team to call a time-out.
The visitors pressed on following the pause bringing the game within six with 4:38 remaining in the game.
Then with three minutes to go, Lowen sunk her fourth shot from outside the arc, reclaiming a ten point lead for her side, and from there the Clan were able to cruise to the 74-59 win.
With the victory, the Clan improve their conference record to 10-2 and 16-3 overall. The win over first place Western Washington brings the Clan to within a game of the Vikings.
“We need to be ready and not rest on any laurels here. We also need Western to lose another game in order for us to finish first and we would like that," finished Langford.
The SFU women are back in action Thursday, February 14 as they face Seattle Pacific University on the road at 5:15 p.m. in Seattle, WA.
