Scheduled Game: @Simon Fraser- CW Playoffs

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GAME RESULTS 1 2 T TWU Spartans 25 17 42 Simon Fraser 38 50 88 « FINAL

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Game Recap

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Top Ranked Clan Too Much For Spartans
TWU falls 88-42 in opening game of Pacific Division Semi-final

BURNABY, British Columbia - The Trinity Western University women's basketball team had their hands full in Friday night's Pacific Division semi-final against the Simon Fraser University Clan. After a slow start the Spartans hung tough with the number one ranked Clan for the first half, but the absence of TWU forwards Kelly Konrad (5'10", 3rd yr, Mt. Lehman) and Heather Van Wieren (6'0", 3rd yr, Walnut Grove) showed in the second half as SFU used their inside presence and deeper bench to run away from TWU 88-42.

SFU outscored TWU 50-17 in the second frame to earn the win and take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series, game two is set for tomorrow night (Feb 18, 7 pm) at home. SFU is now 20-1 in Canada West Conference/Playoffs. They have not lost in league play since October 29, 64-58 to Thompson Rivers.

It took TWU nearly four minutes to score their first basket, but the Spartans were able to close the game to six (20-14) before SFU went on an 18-11 run to lead 38-25 at the end of the first half. The Clan came out on fire in the second half, exploding on a 20-2 run to open the final frame behind some quick points off turnovers and a pair of three-pointers from Devon Campbell (Langley, B.C.) and Lani Gibbons (Salmon Arm, B.C.).

Campbell finished the night's top scorer, as the fifth-year senior shot 10-for-13 from the field for 22 points and eight assists. The Clan had four scorers in double figures, as Gibbons (12 points), Julia Wilson (Mission, B.C., 16 points) and Kelsie Thu (Maple Ridge, B.C., ten points) each contributed offensively. Wilson picked up her eighth double-double in her last nine games, adding 13 rebounds to her 16 points. Wilson, the Canada West regular season leader in blocked shots added another three blocks in the paint, while Courtney Gerwing (Port Coquitlam, B.C.) added ten boards for the Clan.

Taylor Stuart (Surrey, B.C.) was the leading scorer for the Spartans, as the fifth-year guard picked up 17 points and three assists. The absence of TWU's Konrad and Van Wieren was evident as the Clan out rebounded the Spartans 42-to-24 on the boards, as no individual Spartan picked up more than five rebounds in the game. Each team committed 20 turnovers, but SFU was able to convert, outscoring TWU off mistakes 28-to-6. SFU's bench also outscored TWU 22-2.

The two teams will rematch tomorrow night (Saturday, 7 pm) in SFU's West Gym. SFU can close out the series with a win, and would host the next round of the Canada West Playoffs in one week's time. If TWU can pull out an upset Saturday against the top ranked Clan, then the teams will face off in a rubber match on Sunday, Feb 19, at 4 pm.

-TW-

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