WHAT’S BRUIN: Women’s Basketball News & Notes 2/22

Links: Quick Facts / Roster / Schedule & Results / Statistics / Press Releases

Multimedia: Live Stats / Video / KFOX Radio 

Overall Record: 20-5 (Home 11-0, Road 7-3, Neutral 2-2)

NWC Record: 14-2, 1st T (Home 8-0, Road 6-2) 

HIGHLIGHTS:

* Coming Up: Bruins Host Puget Sound in NWC Tournament Opener

* Recent Games: Bruins Win Twice to Share 5th Straight NWC Crown

* Gordon Honorable Mention for NWC Player of the Week Honors

* Polls: Bruins on Cusp of Top 25, Ranked No. 6 in West Region

* Bruins Claim Share of 5th Straight NWC Title, 8th Overall

* NCAA Stats: Bruins Now Ranked 12th in Nation in FG Pct.

* NWC Stats: Bruins Take Over Defensive Lead in Conference

* Career Lists: Munger Now 3rd in Blocks, Gordon 4th in Steals 

* Coming Up: Bruins Host Puget Sound in NWC Tournament Opener 

- Thur., Feb. 24, 7:00 pm - vs. University of Puget Sound (18-7, NWC 11-5), Newberg, Ore.

- Sat., Feb. 26, 7:00 pm - Northwest Conference Tournament Finals (tentative) 

NEWBERG, Ore. – Fresh from earning a share of their fifth consecutive Northwest Conference women’s basketball crown with an 83-55 win over the University of Puget Sound on Saturday, the George Fox University Bruins will turn right around and play the Loggers again Thursday in one semifinal game of the NWC Tournament. 

 The Bruins (20-5, NWC 14-2), the No. 2 seed in the tournament, will host the No. 3-seeded Loggers (18-7, NWC 11-5) Thursday, while the No. 1-seeded Lewis & Clark College Pioneers (20-5, NWC 14-2) will host the No. 4-seeded Whitman College Missionaries (15-10, NWC 9-7).  Both games tip off at 7:00 p.m. Thursday.  The highest-seeded winner will host the championship game Saturday at 7:00 p.m., with an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament on the line. 

Though the Bruins and Pioneers shared the NWC regular season title, Lewis & Clark received the top spot by virtue of sweeping third-place Puget Sound while George Fox was splitting with UPS this season. 

Tickets:  Ticket prices for Thursday’s game at the Wheeler Sports Center/Miller Gym (and Saturday’s if the Bruins should win and Whitman should beat Lewis & Clark) are $6 for adults and $3 for children, students, and senior citizens age 65 and older.  Students of the teams participating in each game will be admitted free with a valid student ID.  Tickets will be available on game day only at the door.  These policies and prices will also apply if George Fox gets to host the title game Saturday. 

Multimedia: George Fox will provide live statistics, a live video feed via Stretch Internet, and a live audio feed from campus station KFOX radio on the internet for all NWC Tournament games which the Bruins host.  See above for GFU multimedia links. 

GFU in NWC Tournament:  The Bruins have appeared in the NWC Tournament seven times since joining the conference for the 1955-96 season (three straight years from 1996-98 and then four in a row from 2007-2010), winning it in 2007, 2009, and 2010.  The Bruins are 6-4 all-time in the tournament, which was not held from 1999-2005. 

1995-96 - L 51-68 at Pacific

1996-97 - L 50-65 at Pacific Lutheran

1997-98 - L 52-63 at Puget Sound

2006-07 - W 58-51 vs. Puget Sound (Tournament champions; three-team tournament)

2007-08 - W 76-71 vs. Lewis & Clark (OT); L 52-62 at Puget Sound

2008-09 - W 85-47 vs. Whitman; W 67-58 vs. Puget Sound (Tournament champions)

2009-10 - W 98-57 vs. Lewis & Clark; W 77-51 vs. Puget Sound (Tournament champions) 

Puget Sound (18-7, NWC 11-5, 3rd): The Loggers from Tacoma, Wash., were picked to finish 4th in the NWC pre-season poll, the Bruins 1st ... Last game: The Loggers dropped their third in a row with an 8-355 loss to the Bruins in Newberg to end the regular season Saturday.  Jocelyn Riordan had 19 points and Kelsey McKinnis 13 for UPS, while Keisha Gordon scored 21, Hannah Munger 12, Hayley Cusick 11, and Megan Arnoldy 10 for the Bruins ... Series record (since 1981): George Fox leads 23-17 (16-5 home, 7-12 road) ... The Bruins and Loggers split this season, UPS ending an eight-game losing streak to the Bruins with a 56-40 win in Tacoma on Jan. 21, and the Bruins bouncing back with an 83-55 win in Newberg on Feb. 19 ...  UPS by the numbers: Scoring (64.5, 6th in the NWC), Defense (57.8, 2nd), Rebounding (42.0, 2nd), FG % (.352, 8th), 3-pt % (.310, 5th), FT % (.691, 4th) ... UPS is 48th nationally in fewest turnovers per game (16.3) ... The Loggers have two double-figure scorers: G Jocelyn Riordan (16.6, 3rd in the NWC), G Kelsey McKinnis (15.2, 6th)  ... McKinnis is 2nd in the NWC and 24th nationally in free throw pct. (.851) ... C Sarah Stewart is the top rebounder (7.4, 6th) ... McKinnis is the assists leader (2.24, 9th) ... Coach Loree Payne is 18-7 to date in her 1st season at UPS ... Next: Feb. 26 in NWC Tournament, 7 p.m. (tentative). 

* Recent Games: Bruins Win Twice to Share 5th Straight NWC Crown 

Feb. 18 - George Fox 60, at Linfield 54

Out-scoring the Wildcats 7-0 over the final four minutes in what had been a back-and-forth contest, the Bruins retained a share of first place in the NWC race. The entire game was a see-saw affair, with six ties and 13 lead changes.  The Wildcats took one final lead at 54-53 with four minutes left – but that was the last time they would score.  A Hannah Munger layup at 3:49 gave George Fox the lead for good, and the Wildcats missed their last four shots while the Bruins added another Munger basket, two free throws by Keisha Gordon, and a free throw by Hayley Cusick to seal the win.  Munger was the only Bruin in double figures with 12 points, while Cusick and Gordon had nine points and three assists apiece, and Arianna Mohsenian scored nine on three threes.  Gordon had eight rebounds. 

Feb. 19 - at George Fox 83, Puget Sound 55

Claiming a share of their fifth consecutive Northwest Conference regular season title, the Bruins shot over 50 percent from the field and ran away from the Loggers for their ninth straight win.  The Bruins tied with Lewis & Clark, both 20-5 overall and 14-2 in the NWC.  Despite 6-5 center Hannah Munger getting into foul trouble and missing most of the first half, the Bruins went ahead midway through the period and built a 16-point halftime lead behind Keisha Gordon’s 14 first-half points.  They remained comfortably in front the rest of the way.  Gordon led all scorers with 21 points, while Munger finished with 12, Hayley Cusick 11, and Megan Arnoldy 10.  The Bruins shot .537 (29-54) from the floor.  Munger had nine rebounds, all in the second half, and blocked four shots, moving past Melissa Marek-Farris into third on the all-time GFU blocks list with 183.  Arianna Mohsenian and Katie Morse had three assists each, and Cusick made four steals.

BRUIN BITS: 

* Gordon Honorable Mention for NWC Player of the Week Honors 

Helping the Bruins to a pair of wins and a share of their fifth straight conference crown, junior wing Keisha Gordon of Vancouver, Wash., has received honorable mention for the NWC Women’s Basketball Student-Athlete of the Week, for games of Feb. 14-20. 

In a 60-54 win at Linfield on Feb. 18, Gordon scored 9 points on 3-6 field goals, including 1-2 on threes, and 2-4 free throws, with a team-high 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.  In an 83-55win over Puget Sound on Feb. 19, she scored a game-high 21 points on 7-12 field goals and 7-8 free throws, with 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.  For the week, she scored 30 points (15.0 ppg) on 10-18 field goals (.556), incluing 1-6 (.167) on threes, and 9-12 free throws (.750), with 14 rebounds (7.0 rpg), 5 assists (2.5 apg), and 2 steals (2.0 spg). 

Gordon, an All-Conference and Second Team All-West Region performer last year, currently leads the NWC in steals (2.58) and assist/TO ratio (1.46), and is 3rd in assists (3.29), 5th in scoring (15.4) and rebounding (7.5), 7th in free throw pct. (.782), 11th in field goal pct. (.458), and 12th in 3-pt field goals (1.33).  She has been the Bruins Athletic Association Women’s Athlete of the Week three times, NWC Student-Athlete of the Week once, and honorable mention for NWC honors three times.

 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; Jan. 17-23; Jan. 24-30; Jan. 31-Feb. 6; Feb. 7-13

- Northwest Conference Student-Athlete of the Week - Nov. 15-21; Nov. 29-Dec. 5; Jan. 10-16; HM, Jan. 17-23; HM, Jan. 24-30; HM, Jan. 31-Feb. 6; HM, Feb. 7-13 

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; HM, Feb. 14-20 

* Polls: Bruins on Cusp of Top 25, Ranked No. 6 in West Region 

In the latest national polls of Feb. 21, the George Fox Bruins (20-5) are just on the verge of breaking back into the top 25.  In the USA Today / ESPN / Women’s Basketball Coaches Association poll, the Bruins received 18 points, the most among “others receiving votes” and only two away from the top 25.  In the D3hoops.com poll, they received 23 points, third-most among “others receiving votes” ... Lewis & Clark was the only other Northwest Conference team to get votes with 14 in the WBCA poll and 16 in the D3hoops.com poll ... Thomas More (25-0) is ranked No. 1 in both polls. 

In the third NCAA Division III regional rankings (thru games of Feb. 16), George Fox (18-5, 13-3 vs. regional opponents) was rated 6th in the West Region.  Coe (20-3, 19-3) is the top-ranked team in the West, followed by Chapman (20-4, 14-3), Lewis & Clark (18-5, 14-3), Simpson IA (18-5, 16-4), and Wartburg (20-3, 19-3). 

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

D3hoops.com poll: http://www.d3hoops.com/top25/index

Regional rankings: http://www.ncaa.com/rankings/basketball-women/d3/regional_rankings 

* 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) 

* Bruins Claim Share of 5th Straight NWC Title, 8th Overall 

With wins at Linfield Friday and at home over Puget Sound Saturday, the George Fox Bruins wrapped up a share of their fifth straight Northwest Conference women’s basketball regular season championship.  It is also the eighth time in 12 seasons of NCAA eligibility that the Bruin have captured the conference crown.  George Fox won NWC titles in 1999-2000 (shared with Pacific Lutheran), 2000-01, 2004-05, 2006-07 (with Puget Sound), 2007-08 (with Puget Sound), 2008-09, and 2009-10, with perfect 16-0 records in ’09 and ’10.  This year’s co-champion is Lewis & Clark College; the Pioneers and Bruins, who split their regular season series, both finished with 20-5 overall and 14-2 conference records. 

* Bruins Stretch Streak of Winning Seasons to 18 in a Row 

With two more wins this past week, the Bruins are 20-5 under first-year coach Michael Meek, their 18th consecutive winning season.  The Bruins’ string began in 1993-94 in their first year under Sherri Murrell, now the women’s basketball coach at Portland State.  Following three winning seasons with Murrell, the Bruins added 14 more winnings season under Scott Rueck, who left this past summer for the women’s basketball position at his alma mater, Oregon State.  George Fox is 349-125 (.736) during that 18-year span. 

* Bruins Add Another Game to NWC Home Winning Streaks 

With a win over Puget Sound on Feb. 19, George Fox extended its two home court winning streaks against Northwest Conference opponents.  The Bruins have won 41 straight regular season games vs. the NWC in Newberg since a 55-51 setback to Linfield on Nov. 28, 2006.  Including post-season games in the NWC and NCAA Division III Tournaments, the Bruins have won 40 in a row over conference teams at the Wheeler Sports Center’s Miller Gym since falling at home to Puget Sound 51-48 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on March 3, 2007. 

* NCAA Stats: Bruins Now Ranked 12th in Nation in FG Pct. 

In the latest NCAA Division III national statistics (thru Feb. 20), George Fox was ranked 12th in field goal pct. (.452), 18th in blocked shots per game (5.4), 35th in rebound margin (+7.9) ... Center Hannah Munger ranked 13th in field goal percentage (.571), 21st in blocked shots per game (3.0), 42nd in double-doubles (10) ... 

* NWC Stats: Bruins Take Over Defensive Lead in Conference 

- Thru NWC stats of Feb. 19, George Fox is 1st in defense (56.6), scoring margin (+12.1), field goal pct. (.452), field goal pct. defense (.346), blocked shots (5.40), assists (15.32), steals (9.80), 2nd in scoring (68.7), 3-pt field goal pct. defense (.285), rebounding defense (33.9), rebound margin (+7.9), assist/TO ratio (0.75), 3rd in rebounding (41.8), 6th in 3-pt field goal pct. (.308), turnover margin (-1.16), 7th in 3-pt field goals (4.40), 8th in free throw pct. (.617)...

- Keisha Gordon is 1st in steals (2.58), assist/TO ratio (1.46), 3rd in assists (3.29), 5th in scoring (15.4), rebounding (7.5), 7th in free throw pct. (.782), 11th in field goal pct. (.458), 12th in 3-pt field goals (1.33) …

- Hannah Munger is 1st in field goal pct. (.571), rebounding (9.9, T), blocked shots (3.04), 4th in scoring (16.0) …

- Arianna Mohsenian is 5th in 3-pt field goals (1.72), 8th in steals (1.60), 12th in 3-pt field goal pct. (.333), 13th in assists (1.88), 30th in scoring (7.6) …

- Hayley Cusick is 2nd in steals (2.13, T), 5th in blocked shots (0.91), 8th in assists (2.48), 12th in assist/TO ratio (0.73), 24th in scoring (8.4) ...

- Breezy Rinehart-Young is 7th in blocked shots (0.74) ... 

* Double-Doubles 

- Hannah Munger: season 10, career 21 - 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; 13 pts, 10 reb at Puget Sound, 1/21; 16 pts, 14 reb vs. Linfield, 1/22; 14 pts, 14 reb vs. Pacific Lutheran, 1/28; 15 pts, 13 reb vs. Lewis & Clark, 2/5; 33 pts, 12 reb at Whitworth, 2/12

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

- Keisha Gordon: season 4, career 5 - 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; 19 pts, 11 reb vs. Lewis & Clark, 2/5; 26 pts, 11 reb at Whitworth, 2/12

* Career Lists: Munger Now 3rd in Blocks, Gordon 4th in Steals 

- Keisha Gordon: With 30 points in two games last week, Gordon raised her career points total to 1,195, 8th on the all-time list.  Ahead is Liz Stephens (1,197, 1992-96) … After going 9-12 from the line in two games, her career free throw pct. is at .804 (263-327), third-best in Bruin history behind Kim Leith (.8108, 210-259, 2002-06) and Christy Brock (.8105, 77-95, 1997-98) ... She had 4 steals last week, giving her 195 in her career and moving her past Tracy Nelson (192, 1988-92) into 4th on the all-time list.  Ahead is Nancy Rissmiller (205, 1994-98) ... She had 5 assists last week, giving her 219 in her career.  She needs one more to tie Melinda Day (220, 1981-85) for 10th on the all-time list ... 

- Hanna Munger: With 4 blocked shots in the last two games, Munger has 183 career blocked shots and moved past Melissa Marek-Farris (182, 2004-08) into 3rd all-time.  Ahead is Shawna Chandler (188, 1982-85) ... With 15 rebounds last week, she has 501 in her career, and needs 54 to tie Tracy Nelson (555, 1988-92) for 10th on the all-time list … After going 10-24 in two games, she has a career field goal pct. of .562 (332-591), 2nd to Kristen Shielee (.599, 223-372, 2005-09) ...

- Breezy Rinehart-Young: Rinehart-Young had 1 blocked shot in the last two games, giving her 66 in her career.  She needs 6 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 20-5 (.800) 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 1-1 (1-0 home, 0-1 road) vs. Puget Sound.