WALLA, WALLA, Wash. -- The George Fox women's basketball team put together a stunning all-around performance in the Northwest Conference Tournament Semifinal game, stifling the Puget Sound Logger offense while shooting 70% from beyond the arc in a 68-42 win.

How It Happened 
Though neither team was playing on their home court, the energy in Walla Walla was palpable from the opening tip — and the Bruins took advantage. Fox refused to budge on defense, scoring the first 11 points of the game and holding the Loggers without a bucket in the first seven minutes of the game. Four different Bruin starters scored as Fox took a suffocating 11-3 lead into the second; the three points were the lowest a Bruin opponent had scored since the 2022 season, also against Puget Sound.

The second quarter saw the offensive output uptick slightly, with each team settling into the game. Fox never let the Loggers get within eight points, though, always keeping a gap between the two teams. Five straight points from Bella Arrisgado and a triple from Claire Hinds pushed the Bruins firmly into the driver's seat. At the half, Fox led, 27-16.

While the Bruin defense kept up the pace in the third quarter, Fox decided they simply would not miss from the three-point line. GFU shot 7-9 from deep in the second half, using the hot shooting to leave the Loggers in the dust. At the same time, the defense continued their intense pressure on Puget Sound; the Loggers only scored two points in the first five minutes as Fox outscored them 24-11 in the third to take a 24-point lead into the fourth.

Fox continued to ramp up the pressure in one of the best all-around efforts of the season. Alyssa Wells scored eight points in the period, including an acrobatic four-point play that sent the Bruin bench into a frenzy. With time winding down, Madeline Schumacher hit her first career triple, capping off a near-perfect performance from Fox. The Bruins were onto their first NWC Championship Game since the 2019-2020 season with a 68-42 win.

Top Performers
Alyssa Wells scored a team-high 17 points for the Bruins, while Bella Arrisgado nailed three triples and scored 11 points. Hanne Hopkins rounded out the double digit scorers with 10 points, six rebounds, and five assists. Alexa Borter pulled in nine rebounds, and the Bruins shot a whopping 12-17 (70.6%) from deep. 

Coach's Thoughts
"Tonight was a great team win," Bruin head coach Lauren Howard said, "We put together a full 40 minutes and didn't let up. I'm proud of this team for continuing to work hard and stay together."

What It Means
The Bruins (20-6, 11-5 NWC) advance to the conference championship for a shot at their first NCAA berth in five years. Puget Sound (11-15, 10-6 NWC) has been eliminated from postseason contention. 

What Comes Next
George Fox women's basketball moved onto the NWC Championship Game, where they face regular season champ and host Whitman (25-1, 16-0 NWC). The Blues defeated fourth-seeded Linfield (19-7, 10-6 NWC), 65-55, to advance to the title game. The winner of the game, scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m., will earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.