NEWBERG, Ore. -- Fresh off their first win of the season, the George Fox women's basketball team faced a tall task in the Puget Sound Loggers, facing a projected NWC championship team that did not play on Friday. The Bruins contended early, but ultimately fell to the Loggers, 41-59.

How It Happened
Erin Yoshitake controlled the Bruin offense early, scoring the first four points for the Bruins. On the defensive side, Fox flustered the potent Logger offense early, with Bruins trailing by just one point, 8-9, midway through the first. Though their defense continued to lock in, Marissa Bartels was the only Bruin to score in the remaining five minutes, hitting two free throws as Fox trailed after one, 10-16.

The second quarter was all Puget Sound, as the Loggers scored the first seven points of the period en route to a 23-point performance. UPS shot 52% from the field in the period, controlling the offensive glass as well. Ella Roberts tried to keep the Bruins afloat with five points in the quarter, but the Loggers took a 20-point lead into halftime, 39-19.

Puget Sound maintained their lead through the third quarter, as the Bruins never got closer than 18 in the remainder of the game. As the game transitioned to the fourth, Fox continued to play hard despite the deficit, holding the Loggers to 14% shooting in the period. The women played until the final whistle, before ultimately falling by 18, 41-59.

Top Performers
Ella Roberts led the team in points for the second straight game, finishing Saturday with 12 points. Jenna Lacey was close behind with nine points on the night, pulling in four rebounds. One of the smallest guards on the court led the team in rebounds, as Marissa Bartels finished with six. Bartels also led the team with four assists.

Coach's Thoughts
"Playing a great team like Puget Sound is a great learning opportunity for us," Bruin head coach Lauren Howard said, "We are growing every day and will continue to do so as the season progresses."

What It Means
The Bruins fall to 1-3 (1-1 NWC) on the season, while the Loggers improve to 3-3 (1-0 NWC).

What Happens Next
Fox will return to action quickly, taking on the Warner Pacific Knights in a midweek matchup. Tip-off for the Tuesday, December 5 game is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.