Simon Fraser University seniors did themselves proud in their final home game of their women’s basketball careers.
The starting Clan seniors, who were part of the first NCAA recruiting class, including Rebecca Langmead, Marie-Line Petit, Chelsea Reist and New Westminster’s Kia Van Laare, propelled SFU to an early 10-2 en route to a 70-59 win over visiting Saint Martin’s University on Saturday.
Van Laare contributed 15 points and a team-high seven rebounds, while Petit addes seven points and five assists. Reist finished with nine points and four boards. Langmead, who had a career-high 24 points and 12 rebounds in the Clan’s 70-50 victory over Western Oregon on Feb. 13, added six points, four rebounds and three blocked shots.
With the wins, SFU remained firmly in second place in the Great Northwest conference standings with Western Washington.
Montana State Billings has all but wrapped up first place in the conference with a 12-2 record.
This week, SFU takes on fourth-place Anchorage and 3-11 Fairbanks in a final road trip to Alaska.
The following week, Clan finishes off its regular season schedule at Western Washington.
Last Thursday, Langmead scored 16 of her game-high 24 points and seven of 12 rebounds in the opening half as SFU took a 21-point advantage into half time.
SFU junior Erin Chambers finished the game, matching her conference-leading scoring average with 23 points. Van Laare chipped in with 11 points off the bench.
“We worked hard all week in practice. For us, it was all about coming out and having some fun in our last home games on this court,” said Langmead in a school press release.
The wins extended SFU’s winning streak to four games. But with three game’s remaining and final placings in the conference still very much in doubt, SFU’s modest 5-3 road record will be put to the test.
“It’s another game, a game we have to win,” said SFU head coach Bruce Langford in the release. “ Four years goes fast and we still have a lot of work to do. The last game (the seniors) play will be emotional.”
