Van Laare can't prevent Clan loss
New Westminster's Kia Van Laare scored 19 points but it wasn't enough to prevent a 64-57 loss by the SFU Clan to the Saint Martin's Saints on Saturday in Lacey, WA.
The setback left the Clan with a split of their two-game swing down the I-5. Thursday they defeated the Western Oregon Wolves 66-53 in Monmouth.
Against the Saints, SFU fell behind early then exchanged the lead with Saint Martin's a number of times until Van Laare hit a three-pointer to put the Clan up by two with 16:48 to play in the first half. They held that lead for just over seven minutes, when the Saints regained the advantage which they were able to build to five points at half time, 32-27.
SFU was able to tie the score twice in the first four minutes of the second half, but that was as close as they'd get. Marelle Moehrle sank a pair of free throws with 14 minutes left in the half to put St. Martin's in front for good.
"It's always difficult to win games on the road," said SFU head coach Bruce Langford in a release. "You need to outwork your opponent and you need the breaks to go your way, which they didn't for us."
But they had in the first game of their road trip, as they led the Wolves right from the opening tip-off. Nayo Rainock-Ekunwe led the Clan with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Krista Collins scored 12 points and Chelsea Reist had 10.
The split leaves the Clan with eight wins and five losses heading into a pair of home games against Alaskan opponents. SFU hosted Alaska Anchorage on Thursday, and Alaska Fairbanks visits the West Gym on Saturday.
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