ANCHORAGE – Alaska Anchorage Seawolves scored with 2.5 seconds left in overtime to hand the visiting SFU Red Leafs its fourth straight loss, 73-71, at the Alaska Airlines Center Thursday evening.
 
The result dropped the SFU women's basketball team (6-8 overall) into a tie for sixth spot with a 4-6 conference record as teams begin the second half of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference schedule. The Seawolves (13-6, 5-5 in GNAC play) are in fifth place in the league standings, with the top six teams set to earn GNAC Championship tournament berths.
 
SFU led 36-32 at the half and stretched its lead to 13-points, 59-46, after a Jessica Wisotzki three-pointer to open the fourth quarter but the Red Leafs went scoreless for six straight minutes, enabling the Seawolves to tie the game at 59-59 with just under four minutes left in regulation. Wisotzki restored the SFU lead, 63-61, on a putback with 1:53 remaining but the Seawolves scored a basketball with 48 seconds left for the final points of regulation.
 
SFU's Gemma Cutler scored inside on the first possession of overtime for the Red Leafs only lead of the overtime period. Sophie Klassen hit a jumper to tie the game at 71-71 with eight seconds left. Following a timeout, Nicole Pinckney took the inbounds pass and dribbled toward the top of the key, swishing her 17-foot jumper with 2.5 seconds remaining. The Red Leafs advanced the ball to the frontcourt with a timeout, but the Seawolves defended well and Georgia Swant's desperation heave was well short at the buzzer.
 
Four SFU players scored in double figures led by GNAC-leading scorer Jessica Wisotzki with a game-high 22-points on 8-of-13 shooting (5-of-9 on threes). Klassen added 15-points and Grace Killins had 14-points. Gemma Cutler, the NCAA's leading shot-blocker, had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds while adding four blocks. Cutler averages 12.1 ppg, 9.0 rpg, and 2.9 bpg.
 
SFU was 10-of-29 on threes and 15-of-19 at the free throw line. SFU's bench out-scored the Seawolves bench 32-17. But SFU was outrebounded 49-43 and hurt by 20 turnovers. UAA grabbed 23 offensive rebounds.
 
SFU plays at Alaska (Fairbanks) on Saturday before returning home for games on Thursday and Saturday next week in the West Gym. SFU plays Central Washington on Thursday Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. in the Whiteout t-shirt giveaway game. Fans are encouraged to wear white.
 
-- With files from Alaska Anchorage