BILLINGS, Mont. - Megan Mullings' layup with 3:07 left gave Alaska Anchorage a 56-54 lead and the nationally No. 1 ranked Seawolves went on to defeat Simon Fraser 59-56 Friday in the second semifinal of the GNAC Women's Basketball Championships at Alterowitz Gymnasium.
 
Simon Fraser missed three potential game-tying three-pointers in the final 12 seconds.
 
Senior forward Erin Chambers, the No. 1 scorer in the nation, got off the first three in a crowd with 12 seconds left. Junior Meg Wilson grabbed the rebound and passed out to senior guard Katie Lowen, who missed an open three with four seconds remaining. Wilson grabbed that rebound, too, and passed to Chambers at the top of the key but her three-pointer was wide at the buzzer.
 
"We had a couple of chances with some open shots at the end but they just didn't fall," said Clan coach Bruce Langford. "We worked hard and never gave up and I think we put a scare into them."
 
The Seawolves (28-1), who have won 16 in a row, will play Western Washington (21-8) in Saturday's 4:15 p.m. (PST) championship game.
 
Alaska took16 more shots than SFU, mainly by forcing the Clan into 23 turnovers.
 
"I thought turnovers and defensive rebounds really hurt us," said Langford, after the Clan conceded 16 offensive boards.
 
SFU, which led by as many as six points in the second half, was paced by Chambers, the GNAC's all-time leading scorer, with 20 points.  Chambers, who was playing through an ankle injury, finished her career with 1,946 points.
 
"The ankle was sore and there was some concern that she may not play but she is a warrior and gutted it out," said Langford.
 
Elisa Homer elevated her play during the contest and scored 11 points while Wilson added seven points and 11 rebounds. Guard Ellen Kett had a game-high six assists.
 
Simon Fraser's final six-point lead came at 54-48 with 7:02 remaining. However, consecutive baskets by Robertson, Wright and Buchanan pulled the Seawolves even at 54-54 with 4:55 left on the clock.
 
Mullings and Alli Madison followed with baskets and Mullings then made one of two foul shots to complete an 11-0 run as Simon Fraser went scoreless for over five minutes in crunch time before climbing to within three points (59-56) on a basket by Homer with 40 seconds left.
 
That set up the wild finish which saw SFU miss three potential game-tying three-pointers in the final 12 seconds.
 
The loss ended the season for Simon Fraser, which finished with a 15-13 record.
 
Mullings and Jenna Buchanan each had 16 points and KeKe Wright had 12 points to pace UAA to the victory.  Point guard Kiki Robertson also played a decisive role in the victory scoring six points, but also contributing four rebounds, five assists and three steals.
 
The winner of Saturday's game will earn an automatic berth in next week's NCAA West Regionals.  By virtue of its No. 1 regional ranking, UAA is already assured of a spot in the regionals win or lose.  Western Washington wasn't ranked in this week's regional Top 10 and will need a victory to advance to the regionals which begin next Friday (March 13).  The regional qualifiers will be announced Sunday at 7 p.m. (Pacific Time) with a webcast on ncaa.com.