The Simon Fraser University women’s basketball team is Alaska-bound, after qualifying for this week’s NCAA Div. 2 West Regional as the fifth seed.
The Clan were the third and final Great Northwest Athletic Conference team to advance, joining the host Alaska Anchorage Seawolves and Western Washington Vikings in representing the zone.
Being one of 64 teams to qualify for the NCAA national championships, beginning with the West Regionals on Friday in Anchorage, is a big step and a great opportunity, says team captain Ellen Kett.
“We are going in as an underdog with nothing to lose,” said Kett. “We are going to come prepared and lay it all on the line. It’s called March Madness for a reason – anything can happen.”
In their first round match, SFU plays the California Collegiate Athletic Association regular season champion UC San Diego Tritons on Friday. While the Tritons were at one point on a 13-game win streak, they’ve lost three of the past nine games and enter seeded seventh.
Kett was a unanimous first team all-GNAC selection, after setting a single season assists record of 241 – 38 more than her nearest rival.
“We’re all very excited at the opportunity to represent SFU on the national stage as Canada’s NCAA team,” said Kett. “We are ready for this opportunity; this is something we have wanted all season and we are ready to step up to the challenge in front of us.”
The Clan has faced three teams in the West Regional this season, losing twice to Alaska Anchorage and Western Washington, and once to No. 2 seed California Baptist.
The winner of the Simon Fraser-UC San Diego game will face the winner of the Alaska Anchorage vs Hawaii Pacific game.
Providing some fresh motivation was their 58-57 loss last week, which saw the Clan get upset by No. 6-seed Central Washington. The winning points came off a pair of free throws with 1.2 seconds left.
Kett led all SFU players with 22 points.
The final will be played on Monday, with the winner advancing to the NCAA Div. 2 Elite Eight, Mar. 21 to 24.
