GEORGE FOX 67, WILLAMETTE 55: No. 2 Bruins Hold Off Bearcats to Remain Undefeated

Box Score

NEWBERG, Ore. – Led by big games from Sage Indendi outside and Kristen Shielee inside, the George Fox University Bruins moved within one game of an unbeaten regular season with a 67-55 win over a determined Willamette University Bearcats team in Northwest Conference women’s action Friday evening here at the Wheeler Sports Center’s Miller Gym.

The Bruins, tied for 2nd in the WBCA national poll and 3rd in the D3hoops.com poll, improved to 24-0 overall and 15-0 in the conference.  The Bearcats slipped to 4-17 overall and 3-12 in the NWC.

Layups by Shielee and Elise Kuenzi gave the Bruins an early 4-0 lead, but the Bearcats took off on a 10-1 run, capped by a layup by Molly Fillion, to take a 10-5 lead with 14:25 to go in the first half.  A three-pointer by Keisha Gordon halted the outburst, and the teams battled on even terms for the next eight minutes. 

Willamette took its final lead of 20-19 on a three by Tiana Abbley with 5:58 to go, but the Bruins exploded for a 15-4 spurt to close out the half with a34-24 advantage.  Indendi had 14 points at the intermission.  Both teams were 11-29 from the field in the half, but the Bruins led due to free throws, hitting 11-16 from the line while the Bearcats never made it to the stripe, trailing 12-4 in fouls.

The second half was mostly an exchange of scores, as the Bruins remained in front between seven and 12 points for most of the period.  The Bearcats did close within four at 49-45 with 7:43 to play following a jumper by Keilyn Fujioka and a three by Alex Zennan, but the Bruins responded with a layup and two free throws by Kuenzi around a B.B. Gardner free throw to make it 54-45 with 4:45 left.  The Bearcats got no closer than six the rest of the way.

George Fox finished with a.382 shooting percentage (21-55) to .354 for Willamette (23-65), and the rebounds were even at 41-41.  The difference remained the charity stripe as the Bruins sank 23-34 (.676) to 4-7 (.571) for the Bearcats.  Willamette was whistled for 24 fouls to 13 for George Fox, and committed 24 turnovers to 17 for the home team.

Indendi tossed in 19 to lead the Bruins, while Shielee posted her eighth double-double of the season with 16 points and 17 rebounds, along with five blocked shots.  Kuenzi chipped in with 13 points, sinking 9-10 from the line.  Indendi also handed out three assists and made seven steals.

Zennan topped the Bearcats with 12 points while Fujioka and Nikki Clowdsley had 10 each.  Fillion pulled down nine boards and had five assists.

George Fox completes the regular season at home Saturday at 6:00 p.m. against Pacific Lutheran University before going on the NWC Tournament Feb. 26 and 28.  Willamette concludes its season at home against the University of Puget Sound, also at 6:00 p.m.  Both games will be followed by NWC men’s games at 8:00 p.m.