By: Jade Richardson
Box Score
Burnaby, BC – The Simon Fraser University women's basketball team was victorious over the Northwest Nazarene University Crusaders on Saturday night, beating the visitors 73-52.
The win was a big one in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings, as it clinched second place and a first round bye in the GNAC playoffs for the Clan.
The evening marked many special moments for the Clan team as Head Coach
Bruce Langford recorded his 300th career collegiate win, it was the Clan's annual Pink Zone game and it was Senior's Night for three graduating players.
"I guess it's an appropriate time to get 300," said Head Coach
Bruce Langford. "I'm more happy about clinching second place than anything. NNU is a team we haven't played well against and we played well tonight."
Langford's 300 victories have all come in his 12 years at SFU. A run that has included five Canadian Interuniversity Sport Championships before the program shifted to the NCAA.
It was the final home game for seniors
Kristina Collins (Port Coquitlam, BC),
Carla Wyman (North Vancouver, BC) and
Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe (Toronto, ON) and the three were honoured by their team in a pre-game ceremony, as well as team trainer Ronnie Tsai.
"Our seniors are wonderful young women. They have grown tremendously over the years both on the basketball court and in the classroom. I'm proud of all three of them," continued Langford.
As part of the team's annual Pink Zone event, raising money for the BC Cancer Foundation's breast cancer research, the team hosted a silent auction, a 50-50 and following the game Clan freshman
Belce Yoruk (Kesan, Turkey) shaved her head for the cause.
The victory also marked the first win for the Clan over the Crusaders since joining the Great Northwest Athletic Conference in 2010.
In her final career home game, Raincock-Ekunwe scored 23 points and recorded 10 rebounds and four blocks on the night to record a double double.
Sophomore
Erin Chambers (Mission, BC) added 18 points to the Clan's efforts while Wyman added 13 and Collins 11.
Collins also had a game high eight assists for the Clan and did not have any turnovers.
"I've had an amazing four years here and this was a great way to finish off the season at home," said Wyman. "We knew since we hadn't beaten NNU we would have to come out strong and with fire and that's what we did. We played as a team and left it all on the floor."
Crusader Megan Hinston led the visitors with 14 points.
The game got off to a quick start as the Crusaders took an early 4-0 lead.
The Clan answered swiftly and took a 15-9 lead four minutes later.
NNU wouldn't lead again and the Clan kept up their momentum, holding a commanding 41-20 lead at the half.
Raincock-Ekunwe had 18 of her 23 points in that first half.
The Crusaders came out strong in the second half but were not able to threaten the Clan lead in the final 20 minutes.
NNU bagged eight points in the opening three minutes, but were quickly stifled by the Clan's defence.
As the minutes died-down Langford called three consecutive time-outs, subbing out his three seniors one-by-one as the home crowd took to their feet to salute the three players.
With the 20-point victory, the Clan improve their conference record to 13-3, and 20-4 in regular season play.
The Clan women return to action next Thursday, February 28 as they travel to Monmouth, OR to take on Western Oregon University. Tip-off is at 7:00 p.m.
