Box Score
NEWBERG, Ore. - Showing few signs of rustiness after
almost two weeks off without playing a game, the George Fox
University Bruins soared past the visiting Northwest University
Eagles 71-55 in a non-conference women's basketball game
Friday evening here at the Wheeler Sports Center's Miller
Gym.
The Bruins, who are ranked 25th in the NCAA Division III by
D3hoops.com, last played on Nov. 29 when they defeated Carleton
College 75-48 at home, but they struck quickly against the visitors
from Kirkland, Wash. A jumper by Keisha Gordon
and consecutive three-pointers by Gordon and Sage Indendi put the
Bruins in front 8-2 two minutes into the game.
They eventually built the lead to 10 points at 21-11 with 8:41 left
in the half on another three by Gordon, who had 13 first-half
points.
The Eagles fought back with a 14-5 run, sparked by Jessalyn
Jackson's three baskets and a free throw, to close within one
at 26-25 with 4:31 left. After Gordon and Alexa
Breidenbach traded threes, the Bruins scored the final five points
of the period to lead 34-28 at the half.
Northwest shot .478 (11-23) in the first half to only .367 (11-30)
for George Fox, but the roles were reversed in the second half as
the Bruins' defense tightened up and their shots began to
fall. The Bruins limited the Eagles to a
shooting percentage of .375 (9-24) in the final 20 minutes while
their own accuracy improved to .538 (14-26), enabling the home team
to pull away.
A layup by Kristen Shielee off a pass from Elise Kuenzi gave
George Fox its first double digit lead at 43-32 with 16:39 to
play. They stretched the advantage to as much as
26 points twice, the last at 70-44 on another inside basket by
Shielee with 4:48 remaining. The Eagles closed
the game with an 11-1 run as the Bruins cleared their bench, but it
was too little, toolate.
Gordon led all scorers with 17 points for the Bruins, Indendi
added 16, and Arianna Mohsenian scored 13 off the bench while
hitting 5-7 from the field. Shielee just missed
a double-double with nine points and a game-high nine rebounds,
leading the Bruins to a 37-31 rebound edge. B.B.
Gardner and Lindsay Keener passed out four assists apiece, and
Indendi made three steals.
Carleigh Newman paced the Eagles with 12 points while Jackson
finished with 11, all in the first half as the Bruins held her to
just one second-half shot. Jackson also had a
team-high seven rebounds. Rachel Mitchell had
four assists.
George Fox (5-0) hosts Chapman University Saturday at 5:00 p.m. in
a rematch of last year's NCAA Division III National
Tournament first-round game in Tacoma, Wash., won by the Bruins
over the Panthers 71-55. Northwest (3-7) visits
Western Oregon University Saturday at 2:00 p.m.
