Box
Score
NEWBERG, Ore. - Buoyed by a first-half defensive effort that
held Whitworth University to 12 percent shooting and only 13 total
points, the George Fox University Bruins sailed past the Pirates
69-45 to remain tied for first in the Northwest Conference women's
basketball race Friday evening here at the Wheeler Sports Center's
Miller Gym.
The Pirates scored the first points of the game on a
three-pointer by Alida Bower 57 seconds in, but the Bruins reeled
off the next 10 points in a four-minute span and never looked back.
The Pirates were still within shouting distance, down 16-11 with
eight minutes left in the half, when the Bruins put together a 12-0
run, capped by a Nicole Hudson three-pointer, for a 28-11 lead at
3:53. It was 35-13 at the break after the Pirates made only three
of 25 shot attempts while the Bruins connected on 12 of 23 (.522).
Although the Pirates' shooting improved in the second half to
.400 (12-30), they were never able to make in dent in the Bruins'
lead, which remained in the 20-plus range the rest of the way.
George Fox made 11 of 24 in the final 20 minutes (.458) and built
its largest lead of 28 points at 67-39 on a basket by Jordan
Westering with 2:13 left. Whitworth finished with a .273 mark
(15-55) and was only 4-14 from three-point range after entering the
game 15th nationally in threes per game. George Fox shot .489
(23-47) and nailed 7-14 from long range.
Melissa Marek-Farris led all scorers with 16 points for the
Bruins, including an 8-8 performance from the free throw line, and
Elise Kuenzi came off the bench to score 12. Kuenzi and Tiffany
Behary had seven rebounds apiece as the Bruins owned the backboards
40-27. Behary and Katy Campbell had three assists each.
Bower was the only Pirate in double figures with 14 points, Liz
Horiatis grabbed six rebounds, and Cassie Snyder and Natalie Orrell
had two assists apiece.
With the win, the Bruins improved to 21-3 overall and 13-2 in
the conference, remaining in a first-place deadlock for the top
spot with the University of Puget Sound, which defeated Lewis &
Clark College 68-62 in Tacoma. The Bruins host Whitman College at
4:00 p.m. and UPS hosts Willamette University at 6:00 p.m. Saturday
in the final games of the regular season. Whitworth concluded its
season at 13-12 overall and 8-8 in the NWC.
