NOTE: Tonight's double header starts at 5:15 pm in the West Gym with the women's game followed by the men at 7:30 pm. Admission is free for SFU Students.
Simon Fraser women attempt to move into tie for first
Simon Fraser entered Thursday night's game in a tie for third place in the conference with Seattle Pacific.
The Clan's nine point win over SPU couple with Western Washington's loss to the Clan's opponent this evening Montana State Billings created a tie for second place between SFU and WWU.
A win for the home team tonight over first place MSUB would move the Clan into a tie for first with Montana State Billings.
Thursday's game against Seattle Pacific was closely contested and midway through the second half it looked as though the Clan were dealt a serious blow when leading scorer
Erin Chambers went down with an injury.
The Clan kept up a strong effort and when Chambers returned soon after her exit, playing the rest of the game with a taped up hand, it seemed to spark her Clan teammates.
Chambers would finish the game with 20 points but it was
Katie Lowen who led the Clan with 23 points as Lowen was strong from beyond the arc going five for eight.
The duo will need to be at the top of their game again tonight and first place MSUB who are led by Bobbi Knudsen who had 28 points in her team's win over WWU on Thursday.
Knudsen was supported by Kayleen Goggins who was second on the Yellowjackets with 12 points.
The game could be decided from beyond the arc as the two sides are first and second in the conference in three pointers made.
Clan men look to rebound from Thursday's last second loss
It was a thrilling game on Thursday night in the West Gym but it was ultimately disappointing for the SFU men's basketball team lost a heartbreaker in the final moments as the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves edged the Clan 65-64.
The Clan leaned on their starting five against Alaska Anchorage and employed a balanced attack as four Clan players earned double digits with
Justin Cole leading the way with 18 points, followed by
Taylor Dunn who had 13,
David Gebru who had 11 and
Ibrahim Appiah who scored 10.
Appiah was dominant on the boards as well, leading all players in the game with 11 rebounds.
SFU will need Appiah to have another big game as tonight's opponents the University of Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks boast one of the leagues top rebounders as well in Andrew Kelly who ranks second in the conference.
The Clan delivered a strong defensive performance on Thursday to hold the GNAC's leading offence (Alaska Anchorage) to 65 points and a similar performance could be key to defeating the Nanooks.
While UAF has been looking up in the standings in recent years at their state rival this year it's the Nanooks who are in the thick of the race for first place in the GNAC as Alaska Fairbanks enters tonight's game in third place at 7-3.
They've earned their seven wins averaging just 69.5 points per game which ranks the Nanooks ninth in the conference ahead of Saint Martin's so another strong defensive performance by the Clan coupled with another balanced offensive attack could make all the difference for Simon Fraser.
