The SFU Red Leafs (6-3) kept their six-game win streak going with a phenomenal effort on Friday, toppling the Concordia Irvine Golden Eagles 74-63 on the road at the PacWest/GNAC Crossover Challenge women's basketball tournament.
 
The six-game run is not only SFU's season-high mark, it also matches the program's longest such stretch in nearly five years, dating back to January 12 to 31, 2019.
 
Senior guard Grace Killins (Coquitlam, B.C.) was deep into her bag all afternoon. Matching a career-high 23 points on a hyper-efficient 5 of 6 shooting from the field, Killins was also 4 of 5 from beyond the arc and 9 of 10 from the free throw line. Junior Gemma Cutler (North Vancouver, B.C.) and senior Jessica Wisotzki (Langley, B.C.) also kept up their excellent run of recent play, notching 18 points and six rebounds apiece.
 
GNAC blocks leader Cutler added another three to her season total, bringing it to 32 over nine games. Jessica Wisotzki made all 10 of her free throws, just two short of the school record for the most foul shots in a game without missing. Ellen Kett was perfect on all 12 of her attempts vs. Northwest Nazarene on Feb. 2, 2017.
 

As good as she was throughout the entire contest, Killins really worked her magic when SFU needed her the most. The last few minutes of the third quarter had seen CUI go on a run, erasing what had once been a seven-point lead for the Red Leafs to just 51-50 heading into the final frame.
 
Armed with possession coming out of the break, Hannah Vela attempted to get the Eagles out in front, but missed on a deep three ball. Killins would make them regret that, knocking down a tough jumper on the ensuing possession.
 
After the hosts' Teagan Thurman couldn't convert on their next trip down the court, it was Killins again in response. This time, the senior made it rain from downtown to extend SFU's lead to 57-50.
 
SFU's defence tightened up in the final stretch of the quarter, and CUI never got within six points of the Red Leafs over the course of the game's last eight minutes. Forced to foul late in order to try and regain possession to mount a comeback, CUI was subjected to some brilliant shooting from the Red Leafs. SFU knocked down 10 of 11 shots from the charity stripe in the final five minutes alone, keeping any Golden Eagles' chance of a comeback at bay.
 
Canada's NCAA team outscored CUI 39-26 in the second half.

As they close out the Californian part of their pre-GNAC schedule tomorrow afternoon, SFU will be hunting win No. 7 against the Point Loma Nazarene Sea Lions, with tip-off set for 12 p.m.

For the latest information on SFU Athletics, visit athletics.sfu.ca. You can also find us on social media at @SFU_Athletics.
 
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