Tuesday, February 12, 2013

PORTLAND, Ore. – Marie-Line Petit played just 15 minutes Saturday, but scored 13 points to help key Simon Fraser’s 74-59 Great Northwest Athletic Conference home victory over Western Washington.

The win pulled the Clan (17-3, 10-2) to within one game of the first-place Vikings (17-3, 11-1) who had won 11 straight.  It also earned SFU GNAC Team of the Week honors for the second time this season. 

The victory also jumped SFU to eighth place in this week's USA Today Sports WBCA national poll.  The Vikings fell to ninth in the national poll.

Petit scored all her points in the last 10 minutes of the first half and also had a key steal and drew a charge as SFU grabbed a 35-32 lead at the break.  She was perfect from the floor making all five of her shots, including three treys.

SFU then built a 13-point lead in the early stages of the second half eventually going up by 19 points with eight minutes remaining before holding on for the win though the Vikings did close the gap to six points at one point.

In addition to Petit, the Clan was also led by Katie Lowen with 17 points.  Carla Wyman had 13 points.  Erin Chambers and Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe had 11 points each.

The win kept the Clan unbeaten in 10 home games this winter at West Gymnasium.

SFU, which also won GNAC Team of the Week honors for the Week of Nov. 5-11, plays four of its final six games on the road beginning this Thursday when it faces Seattle Pacific at Brougham Pavilion. 

The Clan then travels to Billings for a Saturday game against Montana State Billings, which is unbeaten at home this season in 11 games.