The SFU Clan Women’s Basketball team improved to 8–8 on the season and 6–5 in GNAC Conference play with a hard fought 69–58 victory over the Concordia University Cavaliers.
The first half was a low scoring battle in which both teams went long stretches without scoring. The first quarter saw the Clan down 15–13 with Ellen Kent drawing a charge on a Concordia drive with just 4.6 seconds left. The second quarter started off slowly for SFU, with three straight misses from point blank range. For a stretch it seemed like the team could not buy a basket — before Rachel Fradgley scored in the post to tie the game at 15. This was followed by a Kent layup to give the Clan the lead.
After a Concordia basket, Kent responded again with a driving layup which she sunk despite being fouled. The converted free throw gave SFU a slim 20–18 advantage. Rachel Fradgley scored another basket in transition running the floor, and Elisa Homer went hard to the rim to draw a foul which resulted in two made free throws.
These late scoring plays still left SFU trailing 28–26 at halftime. The Clan shot a miserable 25% from the field and made just three of fifteen three pointers in the half. The good news, despite this woeful shooting performance, was that the team was only down by two.
The second half saw SFU move the ball much better and open up post opportunities and open jump shots with effective screens. Elisa Homer, Ellen Kent, and Alisha Roberts made three consecutive three point baskets as the team started to heat up. In a key third quarter turning point, Elisa Homer took a charge which led to a Sophie Swant three pointer on the next possession. The three put SFU up 39–34.
A Clan defensive stop was then followed by a Samantha Beauchamp offensive rebound which resulted in a three pointer by Alisha Roberts. Ellen Kent then drained a three pointer after outstanding offensive ball movement to give SFU a 45–34 advantage.
The third quarter ended in fortuitous fashion for the Clan when Rachel Fradgley’s put back just beat the buzzer. The basket gave SFU a 49–38 advantage heading into the final frame.
Concordia pulled within 6 points, necessitating a timeout by Coach Langford. Sophie Swant responded out of the stoppage in action with a nifty turn around elbow jumper. After both teams went cold for a stretch, Elisa Homer and Alisha Roberts nailed three pointers on back-to-back possessions to push the SFU lead to 12.
The game was iced on a two-possession sequence late in the game. Firstly, Ellen Kent found Elisa Homer who had broken loose on a Rachel Fradgley screen and converted in the lane. Secondly, Kent got bulldozed over on an extremely hard collision which resulted in a charging call. The second half saw SFU shoot 48.4 percent from the field and convert nine of 14 three point attempts en route to the 69–58 victory.
After the game, indomitable Point Guard Ellen Kent commented on the team’s preparation for the contest, their first half struggles and second half adjustments.
Kent said, “All week we have been working on setting better screens for each other and reading them better. I don’t think we did a very good job of that in the first half. In the second half we looked to get a lot more flare screens and that showed as our shooting was a lot better in the second half.”
This Saturday SFU Basketball hosts a Pink Game double header featuring the women’s team at 5:15 and the men’s team at 7:30. The Pink Game is a breast cancer fundraiser. Kent explained how there will be a bake sale, tea from David’s Tea, a 50/50 raffle, a silent auction, and a half time competition with prizes.
There will also be ‘bra pong.’ Said Kent, “I saw it on Pinterest and thought I might try it.” ‘Bra pong’ is a version of beer pong featuring a vertical wooden board and bras, in which the goal is to sink the ball in a bra.
The SFU Basketball Pink Game is being held at Burnaby’s West Gym on January 30th, featuring the women’s team at 5:15 and the men’s at 7:30. All proceeds for t-shirt sales will go towards the Breast Cancer Foundation.
