BILLINGs, Mont – Elisa Homer scored 18 points and Rachel Fradgley had 17 but it wasn't enough as Simon Fraser University lost it opening game of the season, 71-66, to Academy of Art in women's basketball action at the GNAC/PacWest Yellowjacket Challenge Friday evening.
 
Simon Fraser trailed 66-64 with 22.9 seconds left and had possession but senior guard Alisha Roberts travelled on the inbounds play, and after a quick foul, Regina Camera made both her free throws to stretch the Urban Knights lead to four, 68-64.
 
The Clan missed a 3-pointer on its next possession and the Urban Knights made another free throw to seal the victory. An Ellen Kett basket with 3.3 seconds left pulled the Clan to within three points, 69-66 but it was too little, too late. Two more free throws by the Urban Knights completed the scoring.
 
The Urban Knights led 43-31 at the half and its largest lead of the game was 13 points in the second quarter.
 
Simon Fraser exploded for 22 points in the third quarter to pull within one, 54-53.
 
Friday's game was the first of five non-conference road games for SFU. The Clan will play California Baptist University on Saturday. Tip-off is 4:15 PM PT.
 
The Clan opens conference play at home on December 3 against Alaska Anchorage. Season tickets to Clan women's basketball are available now for $95 by contacting tickets@sfu.ca.
 
Against the Academy of Art, Simon Fraser led in virtually every offensive category except field goal shooting (40.3% to 34.4%) but the Clan turned the ball over 24 times compared to 11 by the Urban Knights.
 
Homer led the Clan with 18 points on 5-of-14 shooting. She made 4-of-11 3-pointers but the Clan connected on just 7-of-32 3-point field goals. Academy of Art went 5-of-23 beyond the arc.
 
Fradgley scored 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting and pulled down 12 rebounds.
 
Simon Fraser out-rebounded the Urban Knights 41-23 and its bench scored 14 points while the Urban Knights got just nine points from its reserves.
 
Senior guard Jasmin Guinn led all scorers with 29 points.
 
Simon Fraser played without injured senior forward Meg Wilson.
 
--@SFUClan--