Box Score

BURNABY, B.C. - Western Washington University was unable to hold off Simon Fraser University, falling 74-71 on Saturday, Dec. 6, in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's basketball opener for both schools at West Gym on the SFU campus.

WWU had a four-game winning streak snapped as it fell to 5-3 overall. Forward Tia Briggs (So., Tacoma/Wilson) came off the bench to pace the Vikings with 18 points and center Kayla Bernsen (Jr., Moses Lake) contributed 14 points and eight rebounds.

SFU, which improved to 5-2, was led by the game-high 23 points of forward Erin Chambers, who entered the contest averaging an NCAA II-leading 26.0 points. Center Meg Wilson had a double-double for the Clan with 18 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.

The Vikings were ahead by as many as 14 points, 40-26, late in the first half, and by nine, 52-43, with 14:39 left in the contest. A Briggs jumper gave WWU its last lead, 65-64, with 3:25 remaining.

Chambers, who scored 15 of her points in the second half, converted three free throws and Wilson followed with a layup as SFU took a four-point advantage, 69-65, with 2:12 to go.

The Vikings narrowed the margin to two, 69-67, on a layup by Bernsen with two minutes to play and again with three seconds left as Taylor Peacocke (So., Kenmore/Inglemoor) hit a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 72-70.

Both teams hit free throws and a last second shot by Peacocke from just inside the half-court line was off the mark.

Katie Colard (Sr., McCleary/Elma) scored 11 points for WWU and Peacocke added 10.

WWU next plays an exhibition game at NCAA I Portland State University on Dec. 14 (2 p.m.)