BURNABY, B.C. – Simon Fraser has been picked to finish fourth in the first Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's basketball league season since 2019-20.

SFU got a total of 69 points in the 2021-22 GNAC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll, behind the 2019-20 league champions Alaska Anchorage (92 points), defending GNAC runners-up Western Washington (89) and Northwest Nazarene (Idaho) (70).

With the exception of WWU, who finished third in 2019-20, and Northwest Nazarene, who finished second, the projected order for the 10 GNAC teams in 2021-22 is the same as their finishing order in 2019-20.

Simon Fraser returns to competition after sitting out the 2020-21 campaign. In 2019-20, they also finished fourth with a 13-7 record (18-13 overall). As head coach Bruce Langford begins his 21st season in Burnaby, he will have to find a way to replace forward Ozioma Nwabuko, a two-time GNAC Defensive Player of the Year.

Simon Fraser still figures to have good guard play, as First Team All-GNAC Jessica Jones (17 points per game, 4.3 rebounds per game, 50 assists and 39 steals in 2019-20) and Georgia Swant (5.9 points per game, 31 assists and 23 steals in 2019-20) both return. Jones is the GNAC's top returning scorer from the 2019-20 season.

Forward Claudia Hart (8.6 points per game, 4.6 rebounds per game, .361 three-point percentage and 57 assists in 2019-20) is SFU's third returning starter, while guard/forward Sophie Klassen (4.1 points per game, .455 field goal percentage and 22 blocks in 2019-20) and guard Kendal Sands (6.5 points per game, .838 free throw percentage and 76 assists in 2019-20) should have larger roles.

SFU will begin its season at the D2CCA Tip Off at the Trailhead tournament, taking place Nov. 5-7 in Billings, Mont.
 

2021-22 GNAC PRESEASON WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACHES POLL
Pos.	Team (1st Place Votes)	2020-21 Record	2019-20 Record	GNAC Record (Place)	Pts.
1.	Alaska Anchorage (7)	3-0	31-2	19-1 (1st)	92
2.	Western Washington (2)	6-0	22-9	14-6 (3rd)	89
3.	Northwest Nazarene (1)	7-7	22-7	17-3 (2nd)	70
4.	Simon Fraser	DNP	18-13	13-7 (tie 4th)	69
5.	Central Washington	0-2	19-11	13-7 (tie 4th)	60
6.	Saint Martin's	7-6	14-13	9-11 (tie 6th)	48
7.	Montana State Billings	5-3	14-16	9-11 (tie 6th)	47
8.	Seattle Pacific	7-7	8-20	6-14 (8th)	43
9.	Western Oregon	DNP	6-21	3-17 (10th)	20
10.	Alaska	DNP	7-22	2-18 (11th)	12
Votes awarded on 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis.

 
QUICK FACTS
SIMON FRASER
Head Coach: Bruce Langford (Simon Fraser, 1978, 461-151, 21st Season)
Assistant Coach: Pam Danis
2020-21 Overall Record: Did Not Compete
2019-20 Overall Record: 18-13
GNAC Record (Finish): 13-7 (Tie 4th)
Total Players Returning: 8
Starters Returning/Lost: 3/2

Returning Starters:
Claudia Hart (F, 6-1, Sr., North Vancouver, B.C. –Seycove, 2019-20: 8.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, .419 FG Pct., .361 3 Pt. Pct., 57 assists, 31 steals)
Jessica Jones (G, 5-9, Sr., Richmond, B.C. –McMath, First Team All-GNAC in 2019-20, 2019-20: 17 ppg, 4.3 rpg, .354 3 Pt. Pct., .756 FT Pct., 50 assists, 39 steals)
Georgia Swant (G, 5-9, Jr., North Vancouver, B.C. –Argyle, 2019-20: 5.9 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 31 assists, 23 steals).

Other Returning Players:
Grace Killins (G,5-9, So., Coquitlam, B.C. –Centennial, 2019-20: 1.3 ppg)
Sophie Klassen (G/F, 6-0, Jr., Chilliwack, B.C. –Sardis, 2019-20: 4.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg, .455 FG Pct. 22 blocks)
Emma Kramer (G, 5-11, Jr., Surrey, B.C. –Sullivan Heights, 2019-20: 4 ppg, 1.8 rpg, .727 FT Pct.)
Kendal Sands (G, 5-9, Sr., Coquitlam, B.C. –Charles Best, 2019-20: 6.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg, .469 FG Pct., .838 FT Pct., 76 assists, 32 steals)
Jessica Wisotzki (G/F, 6-2, So., Langley, B.C. –Walnut Grove, Did Not Play in 2019-20).

Key Losses:
Ozioma Nwabuko (F, Second Team All-GNAC & GNAC Defensive Player of Year in 2019-20).

Top Freshmen:
Gemma Cutler (F, 6-2, North Vancouver, B.C. –St. Thomas Aquinas)
Arman Dulai (G, 5-8, Surrey, B.C. –Panorama Ridge)
Makenna Gardner (G, 5-10, Langley, B.C. –Langley Christian)
Kyra Stewart (G, 5-8, Irvine, Calif. –San Clemente)
Sophia Wisotzki (G, 5-10, Langley, B.C. –Walnut Grove)

- with files from the Great Northwest Athletic Conference

Follow SFU Athletics on Twitter and on Instagram @SFU_Athletics.
 
--@SFU_Athletics--