Box Score Pomona, CA - In the NCAA West Region semi-final game the # 3 Simon Fraser University women's basketball team came up against a conference foe for the second time in as many nights but could not make it consecutive wins, losing to the # 2 Montana State University Billings Yellowjackets, 76-68.
"I thought we got down and they were good on the offensive boards early," said Head Coach
Bruce Langford. "We had a lot of turnovers early on but I thought we recovered from that and were fortunate to have the score tied by halftime. Erin's offence was pretty good in the first half and that kept us in it. Offensive boards were crucial for them and they shot the ball well. They've got a very good point guard. They're able to set some screens for her and she's able to make some good decisions. They hit some crucial shots consistently all day so it's tough."
Chambers would finish the game with a game high 33 points and five steals. In the first half, she scored 21 of her 33 points.
"I was able to feel it out and get some shots in the first half," said Chambers. "I think as a team we weren't going to give up, no matter what the scoreboard said. We really wanted to keep pushing. They just hit some big shots and hit more shots than we did."
Katie Lowen (Lethbridge, AB) had 15 points for SFU and senior
Kia Van Laare (New Westminster, BC) scored 14 in her final game with the Clan.
Also playing in her final Clan game,
Marie-Line Petit (Bergeronnes, QC) led her team with four assists while sophomore
Meg Wilson (London, ON) led SFU with 11 rebounds.
Over the first 12 minutes of the game MSUB slowly built an eight point lead as Kayleen Goggins drained a three pointer to make it 26-18 with 8:15 to play in the half.
SFU would outscore the Yellwjackets 17-9 over the final eight minutes of the half, led by Chambers who had 10 points in the final minutes of the half, to tie the score 35-35 at halftime.
Returning to the floor after halftime, MSUB opened the half on a 12-1 run to open up an 11-point lead.
While the deficit would reach 18 with just 3:27 remaining on the clock, SFU made a late charge, scoring 10 of the final 11 points in the game but there was not enough time on the clock to complete the comeback as the Clan were forced to settle for the eight point loss.
"I think we had a tremendous season. To get this far was great for the team. In the next year, I'm really excited to watch this team get better. We're going to go and we'll all work on our game. We've got some good kids coming in and I think we'll give it a good run next year," said Chambers.
"In a week we'll probably be pretty pleased with our season. There were a lot of high points, a lot of good points. We hit a bit of sickness in the middle and had a bit of a lull but we recovered from it and started to play pretty good basketball in the last three weeks or so," finished Langford.
The 2013-14 season ends with a 20-10 record for the Clan and their second straight season reaching at least the NCAA West Region semi-final
The conclusion of the 2013-14 season also means the Clan will say goodbye to their first NCAA recruiting class of Van Laare, Petit,
Chelsea Reist (Mission, BC) and
Rebecca Langmead (Torbay, NL) who were the first four Clan women to spend their entire four year career in the NCAA.
