Box Score SPOKANE, Wash. --- The No. 2/3-ranked George Fox women's basketball team closed out Friday night's contest with a 65-57 victory over the Pirates of Whitworth University.
Recap:
It was a well-balanced attack from the Bruins in the first half, as the starting five scored all but two points from the 28-24 lead at the break. The first two quarters were extremely close as the lead from either side never grew above three points. With five ties in the first quarter, the Bruins took their fourth lead of the game after Sammy Naluai made a layup, giving the Bruins a 15-13 advantage after one.
The second quarter was very similar, as both teams traded baskets back and forth. With 45 seconds left on the game clock, Nicole Blizzard knocked down the go-ahead jumper in the paint to give the Bruins a four point advantage going into the half.
The Bruins expanded their lead in the start of the third, but the Pirates continued to keep the Bruins within reach, forcing the 10th tie of the game at the 6:54 mark, 32-32. Although the Bruins were able to lead for the most of the quarter, they went into the fourth only up by one, 45-44.
The back and forth play continued for both teams in the start of the fourth, and the 11th tie came at the 7:57 mark when Pirate' Callie Harwood hit a jumper, 46-46. Despite the 12th and 13th tie coming 30 seconds apart from each other, Justine Benner forced a steal and completed the and-one on the fast break to take a three point lead, 53-50. With newfound momentum, the Bruins' press forced another steal on the next play, and Kim Frost capitalized making the fast break layup, 55-50.
The Pirates kept it competitive down the stretch, but the free throw game started at the 1:49 mark for the Bruins. After Benner went 1-2 from the line with 38 seconds left in the game, 60-55, the Pirates responded with a quick basket to bring it within one possession, 60-57. Naluai was then sent to the stripe with 16 seconds left in the game, and she went 1-2 to force a two possession game, 61-57.
Naluai closed out the game for the Bruins going 4-4 in the last 10 seconds of the match.
Top Performers:
The Bruins had four players record double digits on the night, but Frost was the leader with 15 on 6-7 shooting. Naluai finished with 14, while Benner put up 12. Blizzard completed the double digit scoring with 10. Kaitlin Jamieson was very close to a double-double as she put up eight points and nine rebounds.
The Bruins out-shot the Pirates 46 percent to 37 percent, but as a team shot 59.3 percent from the free throw line.
What It Means:
The Bruins improve to 22-0 with the win and 13-0 in the Northwest Conference. The Pirates fall to 13-9 on the season and 8-5 in the NWC.
What Comes Next:
George Fox will head to Whitman on Saturday to battle the Missionaries at 4:00 p.m.
