WHAT’S BRUIN: Women’s Basketball News & Notes 2/25

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

Multimedia: Live Stats / Video / KFOX Radio 

Overall Record: 21-5 (Home 12-0, Road 7-3, Neutral 2-2)

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

HIGHLIGHTS:

* Coming Up: Bruins Visit L&C with NWC Tourney, NCAA Berth at Stake

* Recent Games: Bruins Edge Loggers to Reach NWC Tourney Finale

* Gordon Honorable Mention for NWC Player of the Week Honors

* Polls: Bruins on Cusp of Top 25, Ranked No. 3 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: Gordon Moves into 10th on All-Time Assists List 

* Coming Up: Bruins Visit L&C with NWC Tourney, NCAA Berth at Stake 

- Sat., Feb. 26, 7:00 pm - at Lewis & Clark College (21-5), Portland, Ore. (NWC Tournament) 

NEWBERG, Ore. – Hoping to win their third straight Northwest Conference Tournament and fourth in the last five years, the George Fox University women’s basketball team will travel to Portland, Ore., Saturday for a 7:00 p.m. game at Lewis & Clark College, with an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament on the line. 

George Fox (21-5), the No. 2 seed in the tournament, advanced to the title game against No. 1-seeded Pioneers (21-5) by defeating the No. 3-seeded University of Puget Sound 62-56 in one semi-final game Thursday night in Newberg.  Lewis & Clark eliminated No. 4 seed Whitman College Thursday at home 60-51. 

The winner of Saturday’s title game earns a spot in the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament, while the other must await a possible at-large bid.  The 64-team field for the NCAA playoffs will be announced Sunday at 12:00 noon Pacific time, and brackets, host regional sites, and other information will be released Monday at 12:00 noon Pacific time. 

Tickets:  Ticket prices for Saturday’s game at Lewis & Clark’s Pamplin Sports Center are $7 for adults and $4 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.  

Multimedia: George Fox will provide a live audio feed from campus station KFOX radio on the internet for Saturday’s NWC Tournament title game; see above for GFU multimedia links.  Lewis & Clark offers a live video feed via Stretch Internet at http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/lclark.portal#; there is a charge to watch. 

GFU in NWC Tournament:  The Bruins are making their eighth Northwest Conference Tournament appearance since joining the conference for the 1955-96 season (three straight years from 1996-98 and then five in a row from 2007-2011), winning it in 2007, 2009, and 2010.  The Bruins are 7-4 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)

2010-11 - W 62-56 vs. Puget Sound; ??? at Lewis & Clark (Tournament title game) 

Lewis & Clark (21-5, NWC 14-2, 1st T): The Pioneers from Portland, Ore., were picked to finish 2nd in the NWC pre-season poll, the Bruins 1st ... The Pios were listed among “others receiving votes” in the latest WBCA (14 points) and D3hoops.com (16 points) national polls … Last game: The Pios won their fifth in a row 60-51 at home over Whitman in the semi-finals of the NWC Tournament behind 14 points from Megan Spence, 11 from Kristina Williams and Christina Herring, and 10 from Neva Hauser.  Margaret Dowling added 13 rebounds as the Pios reached the tournament title game for the first time ... Series record (since 1981): George Fox leads 55-11 (29-3 home, 24-8 road, 2-0 neutral) ... The Pios snapped a six-game losing streak to the Bruins with a 58-56 win in Portland on Jan. 7 this season, ending the Bruins’ 37-game winning streak vs. NWC opponents in the regular season and 40-game streak vs. the NWC in all games including NWC Tournament and NCAA post-season contests … The Bruins came back with a 77-58 win in Newberg on Feb. 5 behind double-doubles from Keisha Gordon (19 pts, 11 reb) and Hannah Munger (15 pts, 13 reb) and 10 points from Carly Towne ... Lewis & Clark by the numbers: Scoring (69.2, 1st in the NWC), Defense (59.5, 3rd), Rebounding (43.9, 1st), FG % (.430, 3rd, 33rd nationally), 3-pt % (.290, 8th), FT % (.684, 5th) ... The Pios lead the NWC in rebound margin (+12.4, 16th nationally) ... The Pios have two double-figure scorers: G Kristina Williams (16.4, 2nd in the NWC) and C Megan Spence (12.5, 9th) ... F Margaret Dowling (7.1, 7th) is the top rebounder ... G Christina Herring is the assists leader (3.92, 1st) ... Williams leads the NWC in free throw pct. (.857, 5th nationally) ... Coach Juli Fulks is 96-82 to date in her 7th season. 

* Recent Games: Bruins Edge Loggers to Reach NWC Tourney Finale 

Feb. 24 - at George Fox 62, Puget Sound 56

Surviving a brilliant first half of three-point shooting by the Loggers and their own struggles at the free throw line, the Bruins won 62-56 to reach the finals of the Northwest Conference Tournament.  The first period ended with the Loggers holding a 29-26 advantage after connecting on six of eight three-pointers, a blistering 75 percent, but they finally came back down to earth, making only two of their 13 three-point tries in the second half.  Arianna Mohsenian hit a jumper in the lane to break a 43-43 tie and give the Bruins the lead for good with 8:26 left, and she and Hayley Cusick each hit critical threes in the last two minutes to keep the Bruins in front.  Keisha Gordon led the Bruins with 15 points, Mohsenian had 13, and Hannah Munger posted her 11th double-double of the season and 22nd of her career with 11 points and 10 rebounds.  George Fox shot .468 (22-47) from the field for the game, but had a final free throw percentage of only .393 (11-28).

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. 3 in West Region 

In the latest national polls of Feb. 21, the George Fox Bruins, now 21-5, are 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 fourth NCAA Division III regional rankings (thru games of Feb. 20), George Fox (20-5, 15-3 vs. regional opponents) was rated 3rd in the West Region.  Coe (22-3, 21-3) is the top-ranked team in the West, followed by Lewis & Clark (20-5, 16-3), George Fox, Chapman (20-5, 14-3), Simpson IA (20-5, 18-4), and Wartburg (21-4, 20-4). 

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 Consecutive NWC Championship 

George Fox won a share of its fifth straight Northwest Conference women’s basketball regular season championship this season and its eighth overall in 12 seasons of NCAA eligibility.  The Bruins 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 team is NWC co-champion with Lewis & Clark College.  The Pioneers and Bruins, who split their regular season gmes, both finished with 20-5 overall regular season records and 14-2 conference records. 

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

The 2010-11 Bruins under first-year coach Michael Meek are 21-5 after defeating Puget Sound in the NWC Tournament Thursday night, 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 350-125 (.737) during that 18-year span. 

* Bruins Add Another Game to NWC Home Winning Streak 

With a win over Puget Sound on Feb. 24 in the NWC Tournament, George Fox extended its home court winning streak against Northwest Conference opponents in all games, including post-season NWC and NCAA Division III Tournament games, to 41 in a row at the Wheeler Sports Center’s Miller Gym.  The last time the Bruins lost at home to a conference team was 51-48 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on March 3, 2007.  The Bruins have also won 41 straight regular season games vs. the NWC in Newberg since a 55-51 setback to Linfield on Nov. 28, 2006. 

* 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. 24, George Fox is 1st in defense (56.6), scoring margin (+11.8), field goal pct. (.452), field goal pct. defense (.347), blocked shots (5.38), assists (15.38), steals (9.73), 2nd in scoring (68.4), 3-pt field goal pct. defense (.290), rebounding defense (34.0), rebound margin (+7.7), assist/TO ratio (0.76), 3rd in rebounding (41.7), 4th in 3-pt field goal pct. (.315), 6th in turnover margin (-1.19), 7th in 3-pt field goals (4.50), 8th in free throw pct. (.607)...

- Keisha Gordon is 1st in steals (2.60), assist/TO ratio (1.47), 3rd in assists (3.36), 5th in scoring (15.4), rebounding (7.4), 7th in free throw pct. (.777), 11th in field goal pct. (.458), 12th in 3-pt field goals (1.36) …

- Hannah Munger is 1st in field goal pct. (.566), rebounding (9.9), blocked shots (3.08), 4th in scoring (15.8) …

- Arianna Mohsenian is 4th in 3-pt field goals (1.77), 9th in steals (1.58), 13th in 3-pt field goal pct. (.343), assists (1.88), 30th in scoring (7.8) …

- Hayley Cusick is 3rd in steals (2.13), 5th in blocked shots (0.88), 8th in assists (2.50), 12th in assist/TO ratio (0.77), 25th in scoring (8.4) ...

- Breezy Rinehart-Young is 7th in blocked shots (0.71) ... 

* Double-Doubles 

- Hannah Munger: season 11, career 22 - 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; 11 pts, 10 reb vs. Puget Sound, 2/24

- 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: Gordon Moves into 10th on All-Time Assists List 

- Keisha Gordon: With 15 points against Puget Sound Thursday, Gordon raised her career points total to 1,210, passing Liz Stehhens (1,197, 1992-96) for 7th on the all-time list.  Ahead is Susie Davis (1,274, 1983-87) … After going 1-2 from the line vs. UPS, her career free throw pct. is at .802 (264-329), third-best in Bruin history behind Kim Leith (.8108, 210-259, 2002-06) and Christy Brock (.8105, 77-95, 1997-98) ... She had 3 steals vs. UPS, giving her 198 in her career, 4th on the all-time list.  Ahead is Nancy Rissmiller (205, 1994-98) ... She had 5 assists vs. UPS, giving her 224 in her career and moving her past Melinda Day (220, 1981-85) into 10th on the all-time list.  Ahead is Kim Leith (235, 2002-06) ... 

- Hanna Munger: With 4 blocked shots against Puget Sound Thursday, Munger has 187 career blocked shots, 3rd on the all-time list.  Ahead is Shawna Chandler (188, 1982-85) ... With 10 rebounds vs. UPS, she has 511 in her career, and needs 44 to tie Tracy Nelson (555, 1988-92) for 10th on the all-time list … After going 4-10 vs. UPS, she has a career field goal pct. of .559 (336-601), 2nd to Kristen Shielee (.599, 223-372, 2005-09) ... 

- Breezy Rinehart-Young: Rinehart-Young had no blocked shots against Puget Sound and remains with 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 21-5 (.808) 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. Lewis & Clark.