FAIRBANKS, AK – The Simon Fraser University women's basketball team defeated University of Alaska Nanooks 78-70 in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference game Thursday in Fairbanks, AK.
 
Leading 70-68 with 2:21 left, Simon Fraser was scored seven straight points on three free throws and a field goal from senior forward Erin Chambers and a pair of free throws from guard Alisha Roberts.
 
"We scored at the crucial time down the stretch and that was the difference," said Clan coach Bruce Langford. "We stayed away from fouls in the second half and our offense was good most of the time."
 
Forward Meg Wilson had two steals and guard Ellen Kett pulled down an offensive board in the final two minutes to seal the victory.
 
Simon Fraser never led by more than nine points and never trailed by more than three. The Clan led 41-40 at halftime.
 
Chambers, who failed to score at least 20 points for only the third time this season in SFU's 83-70 win over Saint Martin's in its last outing, played all 40 minutes against the Nanooks and scored a game-high 30 points on 10 of 20 shooting. She was 9 of 11 from the free throw line.
 
The win improves the Clan's record to 6-2 in the GNAC, 10-6 overall, and vaulted them into a second place tie with nationally ranked Seattle Pacific (6-2, 14-2) behind conference leader and No. 3 nationally ranked Alaska Anchorage (6-1), the Clan's opponent on Saturday.
 
Alaska falls to 4-4 in conference play, 12-6 overall.
 
"I thought Alisha (Roberts) stepped up to hit a big three-pointer, (Elisa) Homer battled defensively and Meg (Wilson) was really good on the boards," added Langford.
 
Roberts hit a three-pointer to give the Clan a 56-52 lead with under 13 minutes to play that helped sustain a 12-2 run and give the Clan some second-half breathing room, 61-54.
 
Simon Fraser was led offensively by Chambers, the NCAA's leading scorer who averages 22.9 points per game, and forward Meg Wilson (London, ON) has 15-points and nine rebounds.
 
Simon Fraser was a combined 27-for-64 (42.2%) from the field, 4-of-16 (25.0%) from long distance, and 20-of-29 (69.0%) at the charity stripe.
 
Alaska shot 31-for-67 (46.3%) from the field, including a 3-for-16 (18.8%) performance from beyond the three-point line. 
 
Senior guard Benissa Bulaya had 23-points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists for Alaska.