BURNABY, BC. – Simon Fraser University came close to upsetting the top-ranked team in the nation but in the end the Clan lost to Alaska 63-59 in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's basketball game in the West Gym.
 
The Alaska Anchorage Seawolves, 24-1, and ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division II, outscored the Clan 9-4 over the final two-and-a-half minutes to claim a come-from-behind victory.
 
SFU senior forward Erin Chambers hit a jumper with 2:29 remaining to give the Clan a 55-54 lead. But back-to-back shots by Alaska guard Jenna Buchanan and a pair of free throws lifted the Seawolves into a 60-55 advantage with 1:15 remaining.
 
Chambers hit a pair of jumpers over the final minute and the Clan climbed to within two points, but Alaska hit its free throws down the stretch for the win.

Watch the game On-Demand in HD here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVldS9lCFdI
 
Chambers, the GNAC all-time scoring leader, finished with a team-high 15 points on 6-of-20 shooting, nine points below her season scoring average. Junior forward Meg Wilson had 13 points and six rebounds, while sophomore guard Ellen Kett added nine points and six assists.
 
Alaska led by as many as 12 points in the first half before taking a 29-21 lead into the break. Simon Fraser opened the second half on a 17-4 run to bring the crowd to life and take a five point lead with 13:50 remaining.
 
Simon Fraser outscored the visitors 38-34 in the second half but not over the crucial final few minutes.
 
Jenna Buchanan led the Seawolves with 19 points, while forward Alli Madison added 14.
 
Simon Fraser was outscored 40-18 in the paint and out-rebounded 36-29.
 
The Clan was 9-of-27 from three-point range while the Seawolves were 4-of-16 from beyond the arc.
 
Playoff Picture
Alaska, winners of 12 straight games, clinched at least a share of top spot in the GNAC.
 
Simon Fraser (9-7) is one of four teams to have clinched a playoff berth into the upcoming GNAC tournament which will be held March 4-7 in Billings, Montana. Alaska is guaranteed a first-round bye in the tournament. WWU (12-4) and SPU (11-4), fighting for a first-round bye as well, are guaranteed a top-four seed.
 
The top two teams in the conference receive first-round byes in the post-season tournament. In the case of a tie at the end of the regular season, the first tiebreaker is the won-loss record between the two tied team's head-to head. Combined won-loss records against GNAC teams with a better than .750 win percentages is the second tiebreaker.
 
Last Home Game
Chambers and guard Katie Lowen will be honoured in the final home game of the season on Saturday, Feb. 21 against Alaska Fairbanks. It is also Pink Night and money raised from a variety of activities will go BC Children's Hospital.
 
Regional Rankings
Alaska Anchorage is the top seed in the inaugural NCAA West Regional rankings released Wednesday. Seattle Pacific and Western Washington also appeared in the poll at No. 5 and No. 10 respectively. The West Region ranking will eventually determine the five West Region at-large teams that will make the regional field along with the GNAC, PacWest and California Collegiate Athletic Association champions. The NCAA will announce the West Region participants, as well as the regional host, on Sunday, March 8. NCAA Region play will begin Friday, March 13 at a site to be determined.