Monday, November 27, 2023
by Thomas Lal

PORTLAND, Ore. –  The Simon Fraser women’s basketball team is the first basketball team of the year to earn GNAC Team of the Week honors after rolling to a trio of wins last week and extending its win streak to a conference-leading seven games.

The Red Leafs began the week early with an 83-70 win over MSU Moorhead at home on Tuesday, kicking off a strong week that had head coach Bruce Langford very pleased with his team’s performance throughout the three games and the beginning of the season.

“I feel we opened the season playing some very tough teams,” Langford said. “Gradually we have been getting more consistent. The Wisotzkis were very good, especially hitting key shots at crucial times. Grace Killins had maybe her best game ever with highly efficient shooting on a good volume. Makenna Gardner is a Swiss Army knife who provided a bit of everything. Gemma Cutler protected the lane for us and got her usual rebounds. Our bench gave us good energy, especially in the Concordia game where we struggled for a bit.”

The wins last week move Simon Fraser to 7-3 on the season while the seven consecutive victories mark the longest run of success SFU has had since the 2016-17 season when the team won eight in a row.

Senior Jessica Wisotzki led the team to victory on Tuesday with a career-high 36 points, going 10 for 18 from the field, 6 for 9 from three-point range and 10-12 from the free throw line. She strung together some of her best offense down the stretch, notching 10 of her points in the final quarter where she also added three rebounds and a block.

Jessica Wisotzki was one of three players to put up double-digit scoring for SFU against the Dragons along with sister Sophia Wisotzki and Killins with 19 points and 10 points, respectively. Cutler led the Red Leafs defensively with 10 rebounds, four blocks and two steals while also chipping in eight points.

Simon Fraser hit the road on Friday for the first of two games in Irvine, Calif., and took a 74-63 win over Concordia (Calif.) to start the weekend on the right foot. It was Killins who led the way on an afternoon where three Red Leafs surpassed the 15-point mark. Killins matched her career-high 23 points while shooting 5 for 6 from the field, 4 for 5 from long range and 9 for 10 from the stripe. She also added five rebounds, an assist and a steal for good measure.

Cutler and Jessica Wisotki both featured heavily in Friday’s win as well, scoring 18 points apiece. Cutler also added six rebounds, three blocks, a steal and an assist while Jessica Wistozki notched six boards, two assists, a block and a steal.

On Saturday, the Red Leafs capped off their week with a hard-fought 85-83 win over Point Loma. It was Sophia Wisotzki who led SFU against the Sea Lions in both scoring and on the boards as she knocked down 21 points to go with seven rebounds and also matched a career-high six steals. She finished the night 5 for 12 from the field and 10 of 11 from the free throw line.

Jessica Wisotzki turned in her third double-digit scoring performance of the week with 19 points to go with three rebounds, three assists and a block. Cutler, Killins, and Gardner also put up double-digit points in the victory. Both Cutler and Killins finished with 14 points while Gardner notched 11 to go with four assists and a solid defensive performance of six rebounds and three steals.

The Red Leafs will return home this week to host Biola on Tuesday before opening conference play on Saturday against Western Washington in Bellingham.