No. 1 Clan continue long winning streak

by Nicole Betker, USask Sports Information

Archive photo courtesy Ron Hole / SFU Athletics: Laurelle Weigle scored 22 points in Saturday's win over Saskatchewan

SASKATOON - The Simon Fraser University Clan kept their perfect record in tact with a 67-58 win over the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Saturday night at the PAC in Saskatoon.

The Clan, who defeated the University of Alberta 76-65 a night earlier, moves to 10-0 and sit with a school-record 48 game winning streak including non-conference, conference and playoff games. The Huskies, who beat the Trinity Western University Spartans Friday night 85-51, move to 6-4.

Simon Fraser's perfect record keeps gives them a strong hold on first place in the Pacific Division, while the Huskies' 6-4 record keeps them in the mix at the top of the standings.

Simon Fraser jumped out to a lead to begin the matchup and looked like they were going to take control of the game. But with five minutes left in the first half, the Huskies were able to notch the game at 23 and throughout the rest of the half the two teams went point for point. They ended the first half tied at 32 a piece.

Simon Fraser and the Huskies remained close throughout the beginning of the second half. With two minutes gone in the fourth frame, the Clan started to break away and built a small five point lead. They were able to hold that throughout most of the frame.

With four minutes left, the Clan were able to pull out to a seven point lead. The two teams continued to trade points but it was the Huskies who were looking for the stop to close the gap. The Huskies were missing layups and jump shots from within the key late in the game and ran out of time to make the comeback. The Clan held the Huskies to just eight points in the final frame.

The Clan finished the game shooting 44.3%, while the Huskies finished at 40.7%. Saskatchewan beat Simon Fraser on the boards bringing down 38 rebounds in the game.

Simon Fraser's Laurelle Weigl had a game-high 22 points on the night. Teammate Kristina Collins was the next best for the Clan netting 15. Weigl also had a game-high eight rebounds.

Three Huskies scored double digits in the game. Lindsay DeGroot led with 15 points and seven rebounds, followed by Kim Tulloch with 13 points and Jill Humbert with 11 points.

The Huskies have not defeated the Clan since a Canada West Final Four matchup in 2005-06. The nine point differential is the second closest a team has come to knocking off the Clan this season. UBC Thunderbirds lost by seven points to the Clan in a game earlier this season.

The Huskies will hit the road to visit the University of Winnipeg Wesmen next weekend, while the Clan will return home to host B.C. rival the Trinity Western University Spartans.