Box Score WALLA WALLA, Wash. — The George Fox women's basketball team battled hard against the Whitman Blues, with the game tight through the first three quarters before a fourth-quarter run put the game out of reach, with the Bruins falling, 47-66.

How It Happened
The Bruins got the scoring started in the first quarter with a three-pointer from Alyssa Wells and quickly jumped out to an 11-5 lead thanks to three triples. However, the offense went dormant for the final six minutes of the quarter, putting up just two more points. The defense held the Blues from building too big of a lead, putting them at a 15-13 deficit heading into the second quarter. 

After another quick start, the Bruins jumped back out to a five-point lead to start the second quarter. Erin Yoshitake got the first points on the board for the Bruins, and Wells continued her hot streak by scoring five quick points. This solid play kept the Bruins in the lead and allowed them to take a 28-27 lead into halftime. 

Coming out of the half, the Bruins fell behind by four after a quick Blues run but came roaring back with a 7-0 run thanks to buckets from Ella Roberts and Wells. Though the Bruins tried to stay close as the quarter wound down, the Blues extended the lead to five thanks to an 8-0 run of their own.

Though the Bruins got the scoring started in the final quarter, the Blues slowly extended their lead throughout the quarter. Fox was within three points thanks to two Mia Skoro free throws, but a 14-1 run with the game winding down was the nail in the coffin. Though the Bruins tried to claw their way back into the game, the Blues closed the door with another late run to snap Fox's three-game win streak, 66-47.             

Top Performances 
Alyssa Wells led the Bruin's offense with 16 points while going 4-8 from beyond the arc and shooting 6-13 from the field. Ella Roberts was close behind Wells with 14 points, who shot 5-10 from the field while going 4-7 from the line. On defense, Jenna Lacey snatched two steals while Roberts, Wells, and Claire Hinds all contributed a block.   

Coach's Thoughts
"Whitman is a great team," Bruin head coach Lauren Howard said, "They are disciplined and we didn't have much room for error. They went on a big run in the 4th and we couldn't capitalize on the offensive end to cut their run. The team played hard and will bring that every game."

What It Means
The Bruins drop to 5-15 overall and 5-8 in conference, while the Blues improve to 17-5 (9-4 NWC). The loss eliminates the Bruins from NWC Tournament contention.

What's Next
The Bruins face off against the Pirates tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. in Spokane, Wash.