Sports - Local Colleges

POSTED: Sunday, Nov. 01, 2009

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Viking women squander lead in loss to Simon Fraser

The Western Washington women's basketball team opened up a 16-point lead early in the second half, but couldn't hold off a Simon Fraser rally to lose 65-62 during an exhibition game on Sunday, Nov. 1, at Sam Carver Gymnasium.

The Vikings were led by Jessica Summers, who scored 18 points. But no one on the Western squad could hit much during a 10 minute stretch - scoring just five points - after the Vikings took a 40-24 lead just two minutes into the second half. When the cold shooting cleared, Simon Fraser had tied the game at 45-45 with 8:20 to play.

The game see-sawed from there, with Western taking a 60-57 lead on an Erika Ramstead free throw with 2:52 left only to have Simon Fraser score the next eight points.

Western looked for a potential game-tying 3-pointer, but Megan Pinske missed from the left wing with four seconds left.

Freshman forward Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe led Simon Fraser with a game-high 21 points and seven rebounds.

Western plays the third of its three preseason exhibitions on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 6 p.m. at NCAA Division I Portland State University.