Box Score BURNABY, British Columbia - Simon Fraser erased an early 16-point deficit and used a pair of free throws with 1.2 seconds left in regulation to rally for a 75-73 Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's basketball victory against Alaska Thursday night at the West Gymnasium.
The Nanooks (8-8, 2-5 GNAC) trailed 73-71 until freshman guardÂ
Victoria Milton (Lansing, Mich./Business Administration) garnered an offensive rebound and was fouled with 30 seconds left. She converted both from the line to square it at 73 apiece, setting up a final possession for the Clan (11-5, 5-3 GNAC).
With time ticking down nearing triple zeroes,Â
Meg Wilson went up for a shot in the lane and was fouled by junior guardÂ
Kelly Logue (Fair Oaks, Calif./Journalism) with only 1.2 seconds remaining. Wilson made both free throws and the full-court heave was stolen away byÂ
Marie-Line Petit and SFU ran out the clock for the comeback win.
Erin Chambers scored 20 of her game-high 30 points in the second half to lead Simon Fraser's offensive charge as she shot 10-for-15 from the floor and drained four 3-pointers. SFU's Wilson came off the bench and put together a double-double with her 23 points and game-best 10 rebounds and Petit also had nine points as the Clan improved to 7-1 at home this season.
For Alaska, four players scored in double figures, as Milton led the way with 17 points to go with three assists and four steals. Freshman forwardÂ
Jordan Wilson (Henderson, Colo./Arts & Sciences) had 16 points and six rebounds while Logue had 15 points, six boards and a game-high five steals. Junior guardÂ
Benissa Bulaya (Sacramento, Calif./Communication) also contributed 13 points in the defeat.
Alaska held a 41-34 rebounding advantage, including 19-9 on the offensive glass resulting in 21 second-chance points for the Nanooks. Alaska also outscored SFU 22-13 on turnovers and 10-6 in transition in a game which saw seven ties and six lead changes.
The Nanooks stormed out of the gates, opening the first half on a 19-3 run, capped off by a trey by junior forwardÂ
Ruth O'Neal (Fort Washakie, Wyo./Justice) with 13:36 remaining. The Clan's offense awoke 21 seconds later with a layup by Wilson, sparking a 16-2 surge in just under eight minutes to get them within 21-19 with 5:41 left.
Alaska came right back with six quick points to lead 27-19 with 4:57 to go and would never let SFU get closer than four to end the half, taking a 35-29 advantage into the locker room.
Trailing 44-37, Simon Fraser put together a string of nine straight points, which got started on a three by Chambers. The Clan finished off the run on a Wilson lay-in with 12:29 left to give the hosts its first lead since 2-0.
The game remained tight heading down the stretch but the Nanooks could never gain more than a one-point lead. The Clan held a 69-68 lead with just over a minute to go but an old-fashioned 3-point play with 57 ticks left by Chambers put SFU up 72-68.Â
Logue answered right back with a three from the left wing six second later to cut it back to one and Alaska fouledÂ
Ellen Kett almost immediately. She made one of two to make it 73-71 with 47 seconds left, setting up Alaska's last chance. The Nanooks missed on a long-range shot but Milton was there to grab the offensive board, to set up her game-tying free throws.
Alaska will close out the first half of the GNAC season Saturday when the Nanooks face Western Washington at Sam Carver Gymnasium in Bellingham, Wash. The Vikings (10-6, 6-2 GNAC) triumphed 76-70 earlier Thursday at home versus Alaska Anchorage.
