ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Simon Fraser University point guard
Ellen Kett delivered a triple-double, including the dish on the game-winning play, to lift the Clan to a 67-66 upset of nationally top-ranked Alaska Anchorage in women's basketball action at the Alaska Airlines Center on Saturday.
Simon Fraser sophomore
Rachel Fradgley hit the game-winning free throw on a three-point play with 10 seconds remaining for the go-ahead point after hitting the basket to tie the score, 66-66. UAA's senior forward Megan Mullings, the team's leading scorer, missed two free throws with 2.6 seconds remaining, ending UAA's 19-game winning streak.
"We showed great grit and everyone contributed whether they were on bench or scoring a triple double," said Clan head coach
Bruce Langford.
The Clan (15-10, 13-7) got 14 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists from Kett, while Fradgley had 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting, eight rebounds, four assists and two blocks, along with the game-winning three-point play with 10 seconds remaining.
"Ellen is our MVP and her ability tonight to move the ball, score herself and rebound tenaciously was instrumental in our win," said Clan head coach
Bruce Langford. "She showed great mental toughness battling and competing, and came up with a huge inside reverse lay-up late in the game to give us momentum."
The Seawolves could be facing a rematch with the Clan next week when they take the floor for the 1-vs-4/5 semifinal matchup at the GNAC Tournament. The Clan has clinched the No. 4 seed in the GNAC Women's Basketball Championships in Lacey, Wash. But the Clan must first get through No. 5 seed Central Washington (17-11, 10-10) in the quarterfinal round on Mar. 3 to earn a rematch with the Seawolves.
Earlier this season the Clan's Kett missed a three-pointer at the buzzer that would have given SFU a one-point win over UAA. Entering the game, the Clan had lost their last three games against UAA by a total of nine points.
The Seawolves (31-2, 18-2 GNAC), who were led by 28 points, eight rebounds and three blocks from Mullings, clinched its second straight Great Northwest Athletic Conference title on Thursday.
After making 7 of their first 14 shots, the Seawolves missed 16 of their next 17, and the Clan went on a 19-2 run. UAA faced its first halftime deficit of the season at 32-26, and the Clan led by the same margin, 41-35, after three quarters.
The Seawolves cranked up their pressure defense in the fourth and went ahead 55-53 on a three-pointer by Alysha Devine at the 7:44 mark. UAA stretched its lead to three points on three occasions over the next six minutes but could never make it a two-possession game.
Kett drove for a layup to slice the Clan's deficit to 65-64 at the 1:07 mark, and Mullings answered by splitting two free throws. Getting the ball with the shot clock off, Kett penetrated and found Fradgley for a layup, plus a foul on Mullings. Stepping to the line after missing three of her first four free throws, Fradgley swished her fifth attempt to take the lead.
Mullings got ball in the interior and was fouled by
Samantha Beauchamp with 2.6 seconds remaining; however, both of her free throws rimmed off and
Sophie Swant grabbed the rebound as time expired.
Simon Fraser senior
Alisha Roberts led the team with 15 points on 5-of-12 shooting while leading scorer
Elisa Homer added 12 points and was 3-of-12 on threes.
Samantha Beauchamp had seven blocks.
Five Clan players played more than 35 minutes each. "I have never had five players play 35 plus minutes in my career," said Langford.
The Seawolves shot just 16-of-58 (.276), including 4 of 23 (.174) from three-point range.
The loss snapped UAA's 15-game home win streak as well.
Follow the SFU Clan women's basketball team on the club's official Twitter account at Twitter.com/SFUWomensbball.
-- files from UAA Sports Information
--@SFUClan-