BURNABY, BC – Simon Fraser University missed a game-winning three-pointer with two seconds left, giving nationally ranked Alaska Anchorage women's basketball team a scare Thursday night, but ultimately losing 76-74 at the West Gym.
 
The Clan (2-4, 0-1) got a game-high 18 points from Alisha Roberts, plus 14 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks from forward Rachel Fradgley.
 
The Clan lost to the Seawolves for the fifth straight time – including three losses by four points or fewer in the last 10 months.
 
The No. 3 ranked Seawolves (12-0, 1-0 GNAC) matched their best start to a season with the win.
 
Jenna Buchanan hit a mid-range jumper to give UAA a 75-68 lead with just 1:48 on the clock, but the Seawolves would go empty on their next two possessions, and SFU forward Samantha Beauchamp made it 75-74 with two free throws at the 20-second mark.
 
Jessica Madison split a pair of free throws with 17 seconds on the clock, giving the Clan a chance to tie or take their first lead of the night. Gurad Ellen Kett – who had made 3 of 4 treys to that point – got an open look from the top of the key, but her shot failed to hit the rim. The noise from the crowd indicated that SFU fans and coaches felt that Kett's shot was tipped, which would have given SFU one more possession to either tie or win the game. Instead, the ball was ruled out with just two seconds to play.
 
Madison was fouled again and missed both free throws with one second on the clock, and the hosts could not get a shot off.
 
A huge moment came with just under a minute to go in the first half, courtesy of Kett. She drew a huge charge after the Clan turned it over, single-handedly stopping a two-on-one and igniting the bench and crowd heading into the break.
 
Trailing 41-34 at the half, the Clan was able to carry that intensity into the second half.
 
The Seawolves led for almost 39 of the 40 minutes of play, largely due to their advantages in the paint (40-26), bench points (27-12), and offensive rebounds (20-3).
 
Those rebounds led to 15 second chance points for the Seawolves, as opposed to just 3 for the Clan.
 
Next up for the Clan is a home game Saturday, Dec. 5 against Alaska Fairbanks beginning at noon in the West Gym Whiteout.  Fans are encouraged to wear white to the conference games on Saturday. The first 1,000 fans to the West Gym Whiteout will receive a free SFU Athletics 50th anniversary commemorative t-shirt. In addition, there will be a chance to win dozens of amazing prizes, including a $500 travel voucher from Merit Travel, and two $500 SFU Bookstore gift cards.
 
--@SFUClan--