BURNABY, B.C. – Sophomore forward Gemma Cutler of North Vancouver, B.C., tied the Simon Fraser NCAA-era record for blocks in game with seven Saturday as the Red Leafs defeated Northwest Nazarene (Idaho) 67-60 at the West Gym in Burnaby, B.C. 

The NCAA Division II leader in blocks per game, Cutler ended Saturday with a season total of 49 in 17 outings this season for an average of 2.88. She also had a half-dozen rebounds and eight points in the victory, which improved SFU's record to 8-9 overall, and 6-7 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action.

Rebecca Langmead and Samantha Beauchamp also blocked seven shots in a game during their time on Burnaby Mountain. Langmead achieved that feat twice, against California State Stanislaus on Nov. 24, 2012 and again on Jan. 18, 2014 at Western Oregon. Beauchamp was the last SFU player to do so, at Alaska Anchorage on Feb. 27, 2016.

Julia Wilson holds the overall school record with nine blocks. She did that twice when the Red Leafs were part of Canadian Interuniversity Sport (now called U SPORTS).

Several other single-game personal bests were achieved by SFU players on Saturday. Junior guard / forward Jessica Wisotzki (Langley, B.C.) led the team with 20 points. Her 11 rebounds are the most she has recorded in a university game. Sophomore guard Sophia Wisotzki recorded 17 points, eight assists and eight rebounds (a personal best). Sophomore guard Makenna Gardner (Langley, B.C.) tied a career high with six assists.

In total, the Red Leafs recorded 19 assists on 22 field goals. They completed the season sweep of NNU after winning 66-61 on Jan. 5 in Nampa, Idaho.
 

Freshman forward Danika Starr posted 14 points and 10 rebounds to lead the visiting Nighthawks (9-12, 5-8 GNAC). Junior forward Clare Eubanks contributed a dozen points, point guard Lydia Nieto had 11.

"I thought defensively, we competed as hard as we have all year," said Red Leafs head coach Bruce Langford. "We had a plan to handle screens a couple different ways, we started with one and it worked fairly well so we stayed with it for the duration of the game, which was good. I thought our energy was good, we competed hard, and got after some balls. As the lead continued, NNU needed to get after us physically, and I thought we handled that physicality pretty well.

"Gemma Cutler's had a bad cold all week and hasn't practiced much but she certainly, with her seven blocks, made a huge difference in the lane. Jessica Wisotzki didn't hit a three all weekend, but she still led us with 20 points, and she still had a double-double with 11 rebounds, which was very sweet. Sophie Klassen has been getting better and better as the season has gone on, and when Emma Kramer comes through as the three-point threat she can be, it helps us."
 

SFU never trailed in the contest. With 2:27 left, Sophia Wisotzki made a three-point shot from the right wing to put the Red Leafs in front by a score of 64-54. Northwest Nazarene called a timeout and then answered with a Kate Clark three. The Nighthawks then made three of four foul shots inside the final 30 seconds to cut the lead to just 64-60.

NNU fouled on the next possession but Sophia Wisotzki hit both ensuing foul shots to make it 66-60. The Red Leafs forced a layup miss before senior forward Sophie Klassen of Chilliwack, B.C., rounded out the scoring with a free throw.

SFU led 32-29 at the half. Jessica Wisotzki propelled the Red Leafs to a 9-0 run to commence the third quarter. She drew a couple of trips to the foul line and was successful on all four shots. Senior guard Emma Kramer (Surrey, B.C.) scored a three-pointer before a Jessica Wisotzki steal eventually led to her jump shot that made it 41-29. The 12-point lead, with just under six minutes remaining in the period, was SFU's largest on Saturday. NNU trimmed the gap to 48-41 going into the final quarter.

The Red Leafs went ahead by nine points, 24-15, in the second quarter. The Nighthawks reeled off the next eight to trail just 24-23, only for the momentum to be wiped away by an 8-0 SFU run. Junior guard Grace Killins (Coquitlam, B.C.) made back-to-back threes. Then Jessica Wisotzki grabbed an offensive rebound and made the put-back layup with three minutes left for a 32-23 Red Leafs' advantage. NNU scored the next six points to make it a one-possession game at the half.

The first three SFU field goals of the game came from beyond the three-point arc. Kramer opened the scoring before Sophia Wisotzki nailed two. The excellent long-distance shooting was a sign of things to come. The Red Leafs converted 10 of their 22 chances from three for 45.5 per cent efficiency. Overall, they shot 37.9 per cent (22 of 58) from the field, and 76.5 per cent (13-17) at the foul line.

Defensively, SFU held the visitors to 33.3 per cent success on field goals (21-63) and just 20 per cent (4-20) on three-point shots. The Nighthawks made 14 of 16 free throws. (87.5 per cent).

The two sides had 40 rebounds each. One of the contributing factors to the win, SFU outscored NNU 21-12 in points off turnovers.

Canada's NCAA team will be back on the road next weekend, with a game Thursday at Saint Martin's (Washington) at 5:15 p.m., and one on Saturday at Western Oregon (2 p.m.). SFU's last home games will take place Feb. 16 and 18 (Senior Night) at the West Gym.

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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