For the final shot on her home court, senior Alisha Roberts delivered two strikes to lead her Simon Fraser University women’s basketball team to victory.
Roberts, a Burnaby native, sank both free throw attempts to break a stalement and lift SFU past Montana State University Billings 63-61 in an upset decision in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action.
With less than a second to spare, the 5-foot-7 guard drove inside and was poised for a game-winning jump shot when she was fouled by MSUB’s Marissa Van Atta.
Roberts did what she so often has over the past four seasons -- calmly put both shots in, this time for the win.
“This is definitely surreal,” Roberts said following the game. “I was so nervous but I practice free throws every day.
“My dad always tells me that free throws win games and you have to make them count. (Last Thursday) I made them count.”
It was her only trip to the foul line on the night. She finished with 15 points, seven assists and two steals over 38 minutes.
The Clan, who trailed 59-58 with 3:50 to play, snapped a two-game losing streak with the victory and improved to 13-10 overall and 11-7 in GNAC play. They sit fourth in the conference, having clinched a spot in the GNAC women’s basketball championships, which begin next week.
