SFU women sizzle from the arc in road win

A strong long-game proved to be the answer for the Simon Fraser University women’s basketball team.

The SFU Clan hit on a season-high 15 three-pointers to knock off Seattle Pacific University 69-60 in the Emerald City on Saturday.

While the Falcons had home floor advantage and a slight edge in shots, SFU took the game in the late stages with a sharp shooting performance from beyond the arc, as well as a superior game on the offensive boards.

Junior guard Tayler Drynan set the tone with 21 points, including going seven-for-15 from the three-point zone. She also contributed four assists and four rebounds. Sophomore Kendal Sands counted three-for-five in treys and tallied 11 points, while senior forward Samantha Beauchamp chipped in seven points, six rebounds and four blocks.

Contributing her career 1,000 point was senior Sophie Swant, who finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and two steals.

After trailing by three to start the second quarter, SFU ramped it up with a 19-12 edge in the frame to lead 31-27 at halftime. The two teams traded the lead for part of the third quarter, with Ozioma Nwabuko’s free throw early in the final quarter giving the visitors the lead for good. Drynan backed it up with a long bomb 12 seconds later for some buffer.

"This was the first game of the year where I felt like every player contributed in some positive way. (Drynan) had a monster game as well and we were very good on the glass all afternoon," said head coach Bruce Langford.

It was the Clan’s third straight win, propelling them past Seattle Pacific in Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings at 5-3.

The Clan return home to host Central Washington on Thursday (7:30 p.m.) and Northwest Nazarene on Saturday (5:15 p.m.) in a doubleheader with the SFU men’s squad.