BURNABY, BC – Limited to only seven players, the Western Washington University women's basketball team gave a valiant effort in a 69-67 overtime loss at Simon Fraser University Saturday night in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action.
Playing without two starters and a key reserve, the Vikings suffered only their fourth loss of the season to fall to 18-4 overall and 10-4 in GNAC play. SFU improved to 12-13 overall and evened its conference record at 8-8 with its seventh home win in nine games this season.
A little over an hour after the conclusion of the game, the GNAC office announced the final standings via the new Points Rating System and WWU was awarded the 2021-22 regular-season conference title, the fifth in program history since the conference was formed in 2001-02.
After building a nine-point lead midway through the third quarter at 38-29, SFU went on an 11-2 run to tie the game 40-40 on its first possession of the fourth quarter.
SFU built a five-point lead at 56-51 with 2:16 remaining, but the Vikings fought back scoring eight consecutive points to lead 59-56 with 22 seconds on the clock.
Brooke Walling converted a three-point play to give the Vikings the late lead after
Maddy Grandbois hit a three-pointer with 1:13 remaining to pull the Vikings close.
Of the ensuing inbounds play, Jessica Jones hit a long three-pointer to tie the game at 59-59 and a last-second layup for the game-winner by
Emma Duff was just off the mark sending the game to overtime.
SFU built a six-point lead at 68-62 midway through the five-minute extra period, but again Western stormed back on a pair of free throws by
Katrina Gimmaka and a long three-pointer by
Duff to pull to within one point with just over a minute remaining. The hosts hit one of two free throws to pull ahead 69-67 and had a defensive stop to preserve the two-point victory. WWU looked to have one last chance at a game-winner, but an out-of-bounds ball that was originally awarded to the Vikings was overturned and possession went to SFU.
Walling tallied a 17-point, 13-rebound double-double and
Duff led the Vikings with 19 points on 7-for-23 shooting.
Grandbois added nine points going 3-for-4 from three-point range and freshman
Truitt Reilly contributed eight points and eight rebounds in a season-high 25 minutes.
Jones led SFU with a game-high 25 points on 9-for-23 shooting and Jessica Wisotzki added 23 points on 8-for-12 shooting (4-for-8 3FG).
HONORARY STARTERS
The starting lineup for WWU and SFU featured a pair of players that suffered season-ending injuries.
Dani Iwami made the ceremonial start for the Vikings and Kendal Sands started for SFU on her Senior Night.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Here is a look at the statistical comparison between WWU and SFU from Saturday's regular-season finale:
| COMPARISON |
WWU |
SFU |
| Points |
67 |
69 |
| Field Goal Pct. |
.353 (24-68) |
.394 (26-66) |
| 3 Point FG Pct. |
.238 (5-21) |
.346 (9-26) |
| Free Throw Pct. |
.778 (14-18) |
.533 (8-15) |
| Rebounds |
47 |
40 |
| Offensive Rebounds |
16 |
12 |
| Defensive Rebounds |
31 |
28 |
| Assists |
9 |
19 |
| Turnovers |
17 |
14 |
| Steals |
6 |
6 |
| Blocked Shots |
4 |
4 |
| Time Led |
13:16 |
23:54 |
| Points off Turnovers |
23:54 |
14 |
| Points in the Paint |
--- |
--- |
| Bench Points |
20 |
35 |
| Fouls |
13 |
17 |
