Box Score
IRVING, Texas - Led by a trio of freshmen who
combined for 45 points in their first college game, the George Fox
University Bruins opened their 2008-09 women's basketball
season with a 69-53 win over the Austin College Kangaroos in the
first round of action in the University of Dallas Tip-Off
Tournament Friday evening here at the Maher Center.
With the entire starting five gone from last year's 25-5
team that reached the “Sweet 16” of the NCAA Division
III National Tournament, it was a new-look team that took the floor
for the Bruins. Keisha Gordon and Sage Indendi
both started for the Bruins as freshmen and led the team with 17
and 16 points respectively, while rookie Arianna Mohsenian came off
the bench to tally 12 points.
The 'Roos jumped out to an early 5-0 lead on a three-pointer
by Kayla Redden and a jumper by Kersti Marusich, but the Bruins
responded with an 8-0 run of their own a pair of free throws by
Indendi, a basket by Elise Kuenzi, and a three by
Indendi. The Bruins stretched their lead to
seven twice in the first half, the last at 24-17 on a three by
Kuenzi with 6:18 left, but the 'Roos bounced back with an
11-0 run of their own, capped by an Amber Stafford bucket, to take
a 28-24 lead with 3:26 to go in the half. Gordon
hit two baskets in the final 40 seconds, however, to give the
Bruins a 31-30 lead at the break.
The second half was all George Fox as the Bruins went on a 13-2
run to start the period, taking a 44-32 lead on a jumper by Kuenzi
with 14 minutes left, and never looked back. The
Bruins twice took leads of 17 points before the 'Roos mounted
an 11-2 run to get within eight at 56-48 with five minutes to go,
but another 12-3 outburst by George Fox in the next four minutes
iced the season-opening win for the Oregonians.
Kuenzi, one of four returning players for the Bruins, joined the
double-digit parade with 10 points, while senior post Kristen
Shielee had nine rebounds. Gordon added five
assists and five steals to her big game. The
Bruins were out-rebounded 33-31, but made up for it by making 13
steals and forcing 23 Austin turnovers while committing only 14 of
their own.
Katy Williams led all scorers with 19 points, 10 in the first
half, to top the Kangaroos, and nearly had a double-double with
nine boards. She also led the team with three
assists and two steals.
In the tournament's second game, Sabrina Goddard scored 20
points to lead the University of the Ozarks Lady Eagles to a 62-50
win over the host University of Dallas Lady
Crusaders. Cara Sczepanski had 21 points to lead
Dallas.
George Fox (1-0) takes on Dallas (0-2) Saturday at 2:00 p.m.
Pacific time (4:00 p.m. Central), while Austin (0-2) and Ozarks
meet at 12:00 noon Pacific time (2:00 p.m. Central) as the
tournament concludes.
