WALLA WALLA, Wash. --- George Fox closed the regular season with a 54-34 final at Whitman, giving the Blues an uncontested victory and a perfect Northwest Conference season as a result.

How It Happened

Both teams started out playing on tired legs and neither side hit a jump shot for nearly five minutes to start the game with a slim 3-1 lead for Whitman midway through the first. Whitman finished the quarter with a 12-6 lead, but the Bruins were able to win the second quarter, 17-14, and kept it close at the half with a 29-20 score at the break.

After that, the Blues' offense opened up while the Bruins' shooters shut down. Whitman outscored Fox 19-3 in the third and while Fox played the Blues to a draw in the fourth, the game had been well before the final ten minutes expired in a 54-34 defeat.

Top Performers

Erin Yoshitake was a bright spot on offense with a team-high 13 points, including shooting 50% from three-point range on six tries. Emily Stephens did her best to end Blues possessions and stretch Fox possessions with nine boards, including three on offense.

What It Means

Fox falls to 12-13 overall and is 8-8 in its 2021-22 conference season to close the year.

Up Next

While the Bruins weren't able to end the regular season on a high note, they will have a chance for revenge against the Blues on Thursday, Feb. 24, as the fourth-seeded Bruins take on the top-seeded Blues in the Northwest Conference Tournament semifinals.