WHAT’S BRUIN: Women’s Basketball News & Notes 1/19

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Multimedia: Live Stats / Video / KFOX Radio 

Overall Record: 11-4 (Home 6-0, Road 2-2, Neutral 2-2)

NWC Record: 5-1, 1st T (Home 3-0, Road 2-1) 

HIGHLIGHTS:

* Coming Up: Bruins Head for 1st-Place Showdown at Puget Sound

* Recent Games: Bruins Sweep Eastern Washington Teams at Home

* Munger Earns BAA Award, NWC Weekly Honors for Third Time

* Polls: Bruins Remain Among “Others Receiving Votes” in Both Polls

* Bruins’ Winning Streaks vs. NWC Opponents at Home Still Intact

* NCAA Stats: Mohsenian Moves into National Stats in 3-Pt FG Pct.

* NWC Stats: Munger Leading NWC in Blocks, Rebounds, FG Pct.

* Career Lists: Gordon Climbs to 7th on Career Steals Chart 

* Coming Up: Bruins Head for 1st-Place Showdown at Puget Sound 

- Fri., Jan. 21, 6:00 pm - at University of Puget Sound (12-3, NWC 5-1), Tacoma, Wash.

- Sat., Jan. 22, 6:00 pm - vs. Linfield College (8-6, NWC 3-3), Newberg, Ore.

- Tue., Jan. 25, 6:00 pm - vs. Willamette University (1-12, NWC 0-6), Newberg, Ore. 

NEWBERG, Ore. – A critical stretch looms for the George Fox Bruins as they head to a showdown for first place in the Northwest Conference with the Puget Sound Loggers in Tacoma on Friday, host the vastly-improved Linfield Wildcats on Saturday, then start the second half of league play Tuesday with the Willamette Bearcats on Tuesday. 

George Fox, Puget Sound, and Lewis & Clark are locked in a three-way tie for the top spot, all at 5-1 in conference play.  Puget Sound hosts Lewis & Clark on Saturday as well, increasing this weekend’s importance.   Linfield, after struggling to a 6-19 record last year, has already won more games than that this season year and is undergoing a resurgence under new head coach Robin Potera-Haskins.  The Bruins are 1-0 vs. Willamette this season, having opened conference play with a 60-38 win over the Bearcats in Salem, Ore., on Nov. 30. 

All games this week are NWC doubleheaders, with the women’s games at 6:00 p.m., followed by the men’s games at 8:00 p.m. 

Puget Sound (12-3, NWC 5-1, 1st T): The Loggers from Tacoma, Wash., were picked to finish 4th in the NWC pre-season poll, the Bruins 1st ... Puget Sound was listed among “others receiving votes” with 9 points in the WBCA poll and 17 in the D3hoops.com poll ... Last game: The Loggers have won two in a row, the latest a 69-62 win at Linfield Saturday in which Jocelyn Riordan scored 19 points and Taylor Jones 15 ... Series record (since 1981): George Fox leads 22-16 (15-5 home, 7-11) ... The Bruins have won the last eight meetings, sweeping last year 65-62 in overtime in Newberg on Jan. 2, 60-51 in Tacoma on Jan. 29, 77-51 in Newberg on Feb. 27 in the finals of the NWC Tournament, and 59-37 in Newberg on Mar. 6 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament ... The Loggers’ last win in the series was 62-52 in Tacoma on Feb. 29, 2008, in the finals of the NWC Tournament ... UPS by the numbers: Scoring (65.7, 5th in the NWC), Defense (53.3, 1st, 39th nationally), Rebounding (44.3, 1st), FG % (.371, 8th), 3-pt % (.330, 6th), FT % (.669, 5th) ... UPS is 1st in the NWC in scoring margin (+12.3) and 2nd in rebounding margin (+7.5, 32nd nationally) ... The Loggers have three double-figure scorers: G Jocelyn Riordan (16.0, 3rd in the NWC), G Kelsey McKinnis (15.1, 6th), F Lindsay Layland (10.5, 14th) ... McKinnis is 5th in the NWC and 40th nationally in 3-pt pct. (.403) ... Layland is the top rebounder (7.8, 4th) ... McKinnis is the assists leader (2.07, 11th) ... Coach Loree Payne is 12-3 to date in her 1st season ... Next: Jan. 22 vs. Lewis & Clark, 6 pm. 

Linfield (8-6, NWC 3-3, 4th T): The Wildcats from McMinnville, Ore., were picked to finish 7th in the NWC pre-season poll, the Bruins 1st ... Last game: The Wildcats fell 69-62 to Puget Sound at home Saturday, despite 20 points from Gretchen Owens and 13 from Kaely Maltman ... Series record (since 1981): George Fox leads 42-22 (26-4 home, 16-16 road, 0-2 neutral) ... The Bruins have won the last six meetings, sweeping last year 83-49 in Newberg on Jan. 16 and 86-54 in McMinnville on Feb. 13 ... The Wildcats’ last win in the series was 51-50 in McMinnville on Jan. 23, 2007 ... Linfield by the numbers: Scoring (69.4, 1st in the NWC), Defense (59.9, 3rd), Rebounding (35.9, 7th), FG % (.464, 1st, 3rd nationally), 3-pt % (.332, 5th), FT % (.679, 4th) ... The Wildcats have three double-figure scorers: F Gretchen Owens (19.4, 1st in the NWC, 25th nationally), G Micha Pringle (11.5, 10th), F Kaely Maltman (10.8, 13th) ... Owens is the top rebounder (6.8, 9th) ... G Abby Olbrich is the assists leader (3.36, 5th) ... Coach Robin Potera-Haskins is 8-6 to date in her 1st season at Linfield, and 334-204 in her 15th season overall ... The Wildcats host Pacific Lutheran Friday before meeting the Bruins ... Next: Jan. 28 at Whitworth, 6 p.m. 

Willamette (1-12, NWC 0-6, 9th): The Bearcats from Salem, Ore., were picked to finish 9th in the NWC pre-season poll, the Bruins 1st ... Last game: Willamette has dropped nine in a row, the last an 80-60 loss at home to Whitworth on Saturday in which Kaileigh Westermann scored 16 points and Alex Zennan became the 8th player in Bearcats’ history to score 1,000 career points ... Series record (since 1981): George Fox leads 46-12 (26-3 home, 19-9 road, 1-0 neutral) ... The Bruins have won the last 15 meetings, including a 60-38 win on Nov. 30 this season in the NWC opener behind Hannah Munger’s career highs of 25 points and 19 rebounds ... The Bearcats’ last win in the series was 53-51 on Feb. 9, 2002, in Salem ... Willamette by the numbers: Scoring (54.6, 9th in the NWC), Defense (76.0, 9th), Rebounding (38.7, 5th), FG % (.332, 9th), 3-pt % (.242, 9th), FT % (.609, 8th) ... The Bearcats have two double-figure scorers: G Alex Zennan (12.0, 8th in the NWC) and F Kaileigh Westermann (11.1, 11th) ... Westermann is the top rebounder (9.1, 3rd) ... G Erin  Barclay in 2nd in the NWC in steals (2.77) ... Coach Anne Lapray is 5-33 to date in her 2nd season ... Willamette visits Lewis & Clark Friday and hosts Pacific Lutheran Saturday before meeting the Bruins ... Next: Jan. 29 vs. Puget Sound, 6 pm. 

Multimedia: Puget Sound will provide live stats for Friday’s doubleheader at http://www2.pugetsound.edu/athletics/live/basketball/xlive.htm.  George Fox will provide live stats, live audio webcasting via campus station KFOX, and live video streaming via Stretch Internet for the two home doubleheaders; see the links above. 

Tickets:  Ticket prices for basketball games at the Wheeler Sports Center / Miller Gym are $6 for adults and $3 for non-GFU students and seniors 55 and over.  Children 6 and under who are not in school are free.  George Fox faculty, staff, and students are admitted free with valid GFU ID; the ID covers immediate family members for George Fox employees.

* Recent Games: Bruins Sweep Eastern Washington Teams at Home 

Jan. 14 - at George Fox 66, Whitworth 46

Hannah Munger scored a game-high 24 points and the Bruins stopped one of the nation’s best three-point shooting teams for a conference win.  The Bruins limited the Pirates, who ranked 8th nationally in threes (8.1) and 13th in 3-pt pct. (.386) coming in, to a .105 mark on 2-19 from behind the arc.  Munger hit 10-14 field goals and 4-6 free throws en route to her 24, falling one point shy of her career high, and just missed a double-double with 9 rebounds.  Arianna Mohsenian added 12 points and Gordon 11.  Gordon also had 9 rebounds, passed out 5 assists, and had 5 steals, while Hayley Cusick added 4 assists and 4 steals. 

Jan. 15 - at George Fox 64, Whitman 57

Hannah Munger scored 21 points on 10-of-12 shooting and grabbed 11 rebounds, leading the Bruins to a hard-fought 64-57 win over the Missionaries.  The Bruins went on a 15-2 tear, with five different players scoring, to take a 31-24 lead with 51 seconds left, and never trailed again, though the game was still only a four-point difference with seven minutes to play before the Bruins pulled away behind three late buckets by Munger, who posted her 5th double-double of the season and 16th of her two-year career.  Hayley Cusick and Breezy Rinehart-Young added 11 points and Keisha Gordon scored 10.  Gordon and Carly Towne passed out 3 assists, and Cusick made 3 steals.

 BRUIN BITS: 

* Munger Earns BAA Award, NWC Weekly Honors for Third Time 

Averaging a double-double in points and rebounds during the Bruins’ 2-0 week, 6-5 sophomore center Hannah Munger of Newberg, Ore., has been named the Bruin Athletic Association Women’s Athlete of the Week and the Northwest Conference Women’s Basketball Student-Athlete of the Week for Jan. 10-16, her third time for both honors this season. 

In a 66-46 win over Whitworth on Jan. 14, Munger scored 24 points, one short of her career high, on 10-14 field goals and 4-6 free throws, with 9 rebounds and 2 blocked shots.  In a 64-57 win over Whitman on Jan. 15, she had 21 points on 10-12 field goals and 1-5 free throws, with 11 rebounds, 4 blocked shots, and a steal.  In two games, she totaled 45 points (22.5 ppg) on 20-26 field goals (.769) and 5-11 free throws (.455), with 20 rebounds (10.0 rpg), 6 blocked shots (3.0 bspg), and a steal. 

Munger, an All-Conference and Second Team All-West Region performer last year, currently leads the NWC in field goal pct. (.586, 11th nationally), rebounding (9.8), blocked shots (3.33, 11th nationally), and is 4th in scoring (15.9),  She ranks 5th on the all-time George Fox list in blocked shots with 157. 

The Athlete of the Week Award for both men and women is presented throughout the Bruin sports seasons by the Bruin Athletic Association, whose mission is to provide George Fox student-athletes with an outstanding athletic and academic experience and to strengthen the overall competitiveness of the Bruin athletics program.  For more information about the organization or to become a member, visit the Bruin Athletic Association website. 

* 2010-11 Honors 

Hannah Munger

- Bruin Athletic Association Athlete of the Week - Nov. 15-21; Nov. 29-Dec. 5; Jan. 10-16

- Northwest Conference Student-Athlete of the Week - Nov. 15-21; Nov. 29-Dec. 5; Jan. 10-16 

Keisha Gordon

- Bruin Athletic Association Athlete of the Week - Nov. 22-28; Dec. 23-Jan. 2; Jan. 3-9

- Northwest Conference Student-Athlete of the Week - HM, Nov. 22-28; Dec. 23-Jan. 2; HM, Jan. 3-9 

* Polls: Bruins Remain Among “Others Receiving Votes” in Both Polls

With wins over Whitworth and Whitman, the George Fox Bruins (11-4) continued to be listed among “others receiving votes” in both NCAA Division III national polls.  In the USA Today / ESPN / Women’s Basketball Coaches Association poll of Jan. 18, the Bruins received 3 votes, while in the D3hoops.com poll, they got 6 points ... Hope College (15-0) replaced Amherst College as the No. 1 team in both polls after the Lord Jeffs, who had been the top team in every poll this season, suffered their first loss ... Puget Sound was the only other NWC team listed among “others receiving votes”, with 9 points in the WBCA poll and 17 in the D3hoops.com poll. 

D3hoops.com Poll: http://www.d3hoops.com/top25/

USA Today / ESPN / WBCA Poll: http://www.wbca.org/news/top-25-polls/usa-today-espn-division-iii-top-25-coaches-poll/

* Records Set or Tied in 2010-11

- Best FG Pct. in a Game (with a miss) - .900 (9-10), Keisha Gordon at Pacific Lutheran, 12/4 (ties record set by Katie Lacey vs. Menlo, 11/27/1999)

* One Taylor Overlooked in Taylors-Night-Out vs. Whitworth

When the Bruins hosted Whitworth in a Northwest Conference doubleheader on Jan. 14, there were Taylors everywhere - but last week’s note overlooked one: Taylor Martin, a former Bruin men’s player who is now an assistant coach with the team.  Others included Mike Taylor from the George Fox men’s team; TWO Mike Taylors on the Whitworth men’s team; Taylor (LaMoreaux) Taylor on the Whitworth women’s team (who is married to Whitworth’s Mike Taylor from Washington); George Fox sports information student assistants Taylor Kanen and Taylor Blair; and Casey Taylor, a member of the Bruins’ track and field team, who operated the internet video camera.  The George Fox director of athletics is Craig Taylor, Casey’s father, who missed the evening while attending the NCAA National Convention in San Antonio, Texas.

* Bruins’ Winning Streaks vs. NWC Opponents at Home Still Intact

Although the Bruins had their 37-game regular season winning streak vs. Northwest Conference opponents and 40-game streak vs. NWC foes in all games including conference tournament and NCAA post-season games ended in their 58-56 loss at Lewis & Clark on Jan. 7, their home winning streaks remain intact.  George Fox has won 36 straight regular season games vs. the NWC in Newberg since a 55-51 setback to Linfield on Nov. 28, 2006.  In all games, since falling at home to Puget Sound 51-48 in the second round of the NCAA Division III National Tournament on March 3, 2007, the Bruins have won 35 in a row over the NWC at the Wheeler Sports Center’s Miller Gym.

* Bruins Closing in on 18th Consecutive Winning Season 

Last year’s 28-3 overall record extended the Bruins’ string of winning seasons to 17 in a row.  The streak began in 1993-94 when Sherri Murrell, now the coach at Portland State, went 16-12 in the first of her three years at George Fox.  The last 14 came under Scott Rueck, who is now the coach at Oregon State.  To make it 18 in a row, the Bruins, currently 11-4, need 13 wins to guarantee no worse than a .500 record, and 14 wins to be assured of a winning record.

* NCAA Stats: Mohsenian Moves into National Stats in 3-Pt FG Pct. 

In the latest NCAA Division III national statistics (thru Jan. 16) , George Fox was ranked 11th in field goal pct. (.457), 14th in blocked shots per game (5.7), 29th in assists per game (16.9), and 49th in rebound margin (+7.1) ... Center Hannah Munger ranked 11th in blocked shots per game (3.3) and 12th in field goal percentage (.586) ... Wing Keisha Gordon ranked 46th in steals per game (3.3) ... Guard Arianna Mohsenian ranked 49th in 3-point field goal pct. (.390) ...

* NWC Stats: Munger Leading NWC in Blocks, Rebounds, FG Pct. 

- Thru NWC stats of Jan. 18, George Fox is 1st in field goal pct. defense (.343), blocked shots (5.73), assists (16.93), steals (10.60), assist/TO ratio (0.79), 2nd in scoring (68.2), defense (56.9), scoring margin (+11.3), field goal pct. (.457), 3-pt field goal pct. defense (.271), 3rd in rebounding (41.7), rebounding defense (34.6), rebound margin (+7.1), 4th in 3-pt field goal pct. (.333), 5th in 3-pt field goals (4.67, T), turnover margin (-1.07), 9th in free throw pct. (.582)...

- Keisha Gordon is 1st in steals (3.27), assist/TO ratio (1.69), 2nd in assists (3.60), 4th in rebounding (7.8, T), 5th in scoring (15.2), 6th in 3-pt field goals (1.73, T), 9th in free throw pct. (.711), 11th in field goal pct. (.462), 15th in blocked shots (0.47, T) …

- Hannah Munger is 1st in field goal pct. (.586), rebounding (9.8), blocked shots (3.33), 4th in scoring (15.9) …

- Arianna Mohsenian is 4th in 3-pt field goals (2.00), 6th in 3-pt field goal pct. (.390), 11th in assists (2.07, T), steals (1.47, T), 25th in scoring (8.7) …

- Hayley Cusick is 3rd in steals (2.43), 5th in blocked shots (1.07), 6th in assists (3.00), assist/TO ratio (0.81), 7th in field goal pct. (.480), 26th in scoring (8.7) ...

- Breezy Rinehart-Young is 7th in blocked shots (0.69, T) ...

- Carly Towne is 14th in assists (2.00, T) ...

* Double-Doubles 

- Hannah Munger: season 5, career 16 - 20 pts, 13 reb vs. Corban, 11/16; 11 pts, 14 reb vs. Chapman, 11/21; 25 pts, 19 reb at Willamette, 11/30; 22 pts, 10 reb vs. St. Mary’s (Ind.) at San Diego, Calif., 12/28; 21 pts/11 reb vs. Whitman

- Megan Arnoldy: season 1, career 1 - 17 pts, 12 reb vs. Southern Oregon, 11/19

- Keisha Gordon: season 3, career 4 - 27 pts, 10 reb at Pacific Lutheran, 12/4; 22 pts, 11 reb vs. Fairleigh Dickinson-Florham at San Diego, Calif., 12/27; 17 pts, 10 reb vs. St. Mary’s (Ind.) at San Diego, Calif., 12/28

* Career Lists: Gordon Climbs to 7th on Career Steals Chart 

- Keisha Gordon: With 21 points in the last two games, Gordon pushed her career points total to 1,053, 10th on the all-time scoring list.  Ahead is Katy Campbell (1,093, 2004-08) … She hit 6-7 free throws during the week, putting her career free throw pct. at .798 (209-262), 3rd behind Kim Leith (.8108, 210-259, 2002-06) and Christy Brock (.8105, 77-95, 1997-98) ... With 6 steals during the week, she raised her career total to 182, passing Robin Taylor (177, 2003-07) and Heidi Rueck (177, 1991-95) for 7th on the all-time list.  Ahead are Melody Groeneveld-McMaster (186, 1981-85), Tiffany Behary (187, 2004-08), and Tracy Nelson (192, 1988-92) ...

- Hanna Munger: With 6 blocked shots in the last two games, Munger has 157 career blocked shots, 5th on the all-time list at George Fox.  She needs 18 to tie Kristen Shielee (175, 2005-09) for 4th on the all-time list ... After going 20-26 from the field during the week, she has a career field goal pct. of .565 (270-478), 2nd to Kristen Shielee (.599, 223-372, 2005-09) ...

- Breezy Rinehart-Young: Rinehart-Young had no blocked shot in the last two games, leaving her career total at 58.  She needs 14 more to tie Melody Groeneveld-McMaster (72, 1981-85) for 10th on the all-time list ...

* Head Coach Michael Meek

Head coach Michael Meek (Eastern Oregon ‘99) is 11-4 (.733) to date in his first season at George Fox after replacing Scott Rueck, who took the women’s basketball head coaching job at his alma mater, Oregon State.  Meek composed a record of 264-79 (.769) in 13 years of high school coaching in Oregon, three at La Grande (1997-2000) and 10 at Beaverton Southridge (2000-10).  He led Southridge to five large-school state championships in his last six years, received 12 league or state Coach of the Year awards during his career, and was the 2006 MaxPrep National Girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year ... He is 0-0 vs. Puget Sound and Linfield, and 1-0 (1-0 road) vs. Willamette.