BURNABY, B.C. – The SFU Red Leafs fended off a furious last-minute comeback attempt on Saturday afternoon, topping the Point Loma Nazarene Sea Lions 85-83 on a neutral court to capture their seventh straight win.
 
Canada's NCAA team finished undefeated at the PacWest/GNAC Crossover Challenge in Irvine, California, after opening the women's basketball tournament with a triumph over host Concordia (California) Friday.
 
The current win streak is the longest for the program since it won eight contests between Dec. 3, 2016 and Jan. 14, 2017. SFU had another eight-game win streak earlier in the same season that ran from Nov. 5 to 26, 2016. The 2016-17 squad ended its campaign with an appearance in the NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen.
 
On Saturday, SFU (7-3) had five players hit the double-digit mark in scoring, but Sophia Wisotzki's performance was undoubtedly the Red Leafs' two-way centerpiece. The guard from Langley, B.C., not only notched game-highs of 21 points and seven rebounds, but she also added a season-high six steals, matching her previous career-best mark from a January 2023 contest against the Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks.
 
Guard/forward Jessica Wisotzki of Langley, B.C. (18 points), forward Gemma Cutler of North Vancouver, B.C. (14), guard Grace Killins of Coquitlam, B.C. (14), and Makenna Gardner of Langley, B.C. (11) also played key roles in the SFU offence.
 
SFU was actually outshot for the most part by the Sea Lions (2-4), as they notably went 11 of 22 from beyond the arc. However, where the Red Leafs made up ground was in their physicality. SFU not only out-rebounded PLNU 37-33, they also got to the free throw line 31 times to just 18 for the Sea Lions. SFU also made those opportunities count, hitting 25 of 31 from the foul line (80.6 per cent).
 

 
A back-and-forth battle after three quarters had SFU up by two, 59-57. The Red Leafs had ceded the first and third quarters, but a dominant second frame, in which they outscored Point Loma 28-12, had them ahead by that thin margin.
 
The Wisotzkis kicked off the fourth with a 6-0 run, as the Red Leafs stretched their lead to as many as eight points on a few occasions. SFU continued to hold the Sea Lions at bay, as Jessica Wisotzki knocked down a high-difficulty layup in traffic, plus the ensuing and-one, to put the Leafs up 76-67 with just three minutes remaining.
 
After another pair of Wisotzki free throws, the Sea Lions mounted their comeback. Down 11, Point Loma got two huge threes from Tavia Rowell and Ellie Turk as part of a 7-0 run.
 
With just 30 seconds left and down four points, the Sea Lions were forced to foul to regain possession. However, Sophia Wisotzki and Killins combined to knock down five free throws in the final minute, clinching the victory.
 
SFU will return home for a non-conference game against the Biola Eagles on Tuesday, November 28. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at the West Gym. Tickets can be purchased at: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/sfu-womens-basketball-vs-biola-university-tickets-727705736447
 
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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