NAMPA, ID – NCAA second-leading scorer
Jessica Wisotzki scored 23 points but it took a big defensive play from Wisotzki for SFU to survive a frantic finish and earn a 66-61 road win over Northwest Nazarene in Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's basketball action Thursday night in the Johnson Sports Center.
Wisotski is averaging 24 points per game to lead the GNAC and rank second in NCAA and she has scored more than 20 points in every game this season. But it took a big block and rebound on the potential game-tying shot from the Nighthawks in the final seconds for Wisotzki to seal the win.
Jessica Wisotzki and her sister
Sophia Wisotzki scored SFU's final seven points after the Red Leafs and Nighthawks were tied 59-59 with 1:58 left in the game.
Sophia Wisotzki earned a bucket and made the free throw on the and-one to give SFU a three-point lead, 62-59, with 96 seconds remaining. Jordan Pinson hit a pair of free throws to cut the lead to one before
Jessica Wisotzki scored a jumper in the paint with 30 seconds left to push the lead back out to three.
The Nighthawks missed two straight shots and then
Jessica Wisotzki missed two free throws with 11 seconds left to leave NNU with a chance to tie. After the timeout,
Jessica Wisotzki used all of her 6-foot-2 frame to block Pinson's game-tying three-point attempt. Wisotzki grabbed the rebound and then hit her final two free throws for a five-point victory.
SFU, which averages 75 points per game, is now 4-4 overall and 2-2 in the GNAC. NNU is 7-6 overall, 3-2 in GNAC play.
Thursday, Wisotski was 8-of-16 from the field, 3-of-7 on threes, grabbed six rebounds and blocked two shots in 37 minutes. She ranks second in NCAA with a three-point percentage of 58 percent.
Georgia Swant and
Grace Killins scored 13 points apiece, with Killins connecting on 4-of-8 threes.
Sophia Wisotzki finished with 10 points.
SFU shot 30 percent on threes, going 9-of-30. As a team, Simon Fraser leads the conference and ranks seventh in NCAA Division II with a 37.4 three-point percentage.
The Nighthawks made just 2-of-17 three-pointers.
SFU led 35-23 at the half and 55-44 after three quarters. But the Nighthawks went on an 8-1 run to open the fourth quarter to climb back into the game as SFU managed to score just four points in the first eight minutes of the final period.
SFU never trailed in the game.
Gemma Cutler grabbed 13 of SFU's 39 rebounds and blocked five shots to lead all players in both stats.
SFU plays Saturday at No. 24 ranked Central Washington.
The Red Leafs play back at home on Thursday, Jan. 12 (Western Oregon) and Saturday Jan. 14 (Saint Martin's). Red Leaf bracelets with be given out at Thursday's game and Red Leaf branded bucket hats at Saturday's contest. Parking is free at SFU varsity games. All of basketball games also feature performances by the SFU Dance Team, a $500 half-court shot and t-shirt toss.
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