MONMOUTH, Ore.—Knocking down its first three 3-pointers of the game to generate an early lead, Simon Fraser held off a spirited third-quarter rally to defeat Western Oregon, 81-67, in GNAC women's basketball action on Thursday night.

Nicole Vander Helm scored 16 of her game-high 30 points in the first half to boost Simon Fraser (7-6, 2-3 GNAC) to a 43-28 lead at the break.

A Savannah Heugley layup in the first kept Western Oregon (5-6, 1-4 GNAC) to within a single possession at 13-11 while a Natalie DeLonge basket at 6:22 in the second kept it at a 26-21 spread before the Clan compiled a 17-7 run to close out the half.   

Returning from the locker room, the Wolves outscored the visitors 21-13 in the third quarter and pulled to within six (52-46) following a Sydney Azorr jumper.

The two teams traded baskets early in the fourth and the Wolves continued to cut into the deficit, eventually making it a four-point spread on a pair of free throw makes by Taisha Thomas at the 6:57 mark.

"If we had come out with the same sense of urgency at the beginning as we did in the second half, we would have put ourselves in great position to win this ball game," WOU head coach Holli Howard-Carpenter said. "The 3-ball hurt us in the first half but I thought we did a great job of getting out on and pressuring shooters after the half." 

After being held scoreless in the third, Vander Helm tallied 14 points in the finale, including converting 8-of-9 from the free throw line, to secure the win. In addition to Vander Helm's outburst, the Clan outrebounded the Wolves 11-to-5 over the final 10 minutes of play.

"We crashed and gave ourselves second opportunities which helped us close the gap to six. We missed too many easy shots and didn't get to the free throw line nearly enough and when we did get there, we didn't convert," Howard-Carpenter said.

The Wolves entered the game ranked  No. 1 in the GNAC with a 77.7 rate at the free throw line but managed just 53.8 (7-of-13) on the night. The Clan, meanwhile, connected on 75.8 percent (25-of-33) of their chances from the stripe.

Kennedy Corrigan led all WOU players with 16 points after hitting 3-of-6 from distance. DeLonge added 12 points and six rebounds in her first starting nod of the season.

"Nat and Kennedy had great energy tonight and I'm proud of the way they competed," Howard-Carpenter said. "We have to find a way to get going earlier on the offensive end so there isn't so much pressure on our defense to get stops."

Western Oregon will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 6 by hosting Western Washington University. Opening tip is set for 5:15 p.m. in the first game of a doubleheader. The WOU men's team will take the court at 7:30 p.m. against Montana State University Billings.