SPOKANE, Wash. -- Thanks in part to a 28-point performance from Kylie Ritter, the most scored by a Bruin since 2018, the George Fox women's basketball team pushed past the Whitworth Pirates, 70-59.

How It Happened
As opposed to their 37-34 loss the night before, the opening stanza featured several more offensive fireworks. As with the night before, Tara Ushiro got things going with a layup before assisting Addison Dippel to give Fox a quick 4-0 lead. The Pirates battled back, though, taking a 10-6 lead midway through the period. Maddie Schumacher countered with back-to-back layups, helping spur an 11-4 run that ended with an Ushiro triple. After one, Fox led, 17-14.

Bella Arrisgado got things going for Fox with a tough layup inside before Emma Boehm found Dippel for a corner trey to put the Bruins ahead seven, 22-15. Boehm was the early story for GFU — the junior scored or assisted on 10 of Fox's 16 points in the quarter. Her final assist of the period was to Kylie Ritter, who nailed a triple with 30 seconds left to give Fox a 33-29 lead heading to the break.

That three-pointer supercharged Ritter, as the senior came out of the break blazing. Ritter hit a jumper, a triple, and a tip-in to move the Bruin lead to 12; the guard went on to score 16 of GFU's 24 points in the third, including the first 12 points. But it wasn't just Ritter getting the job done on the offensive end — Sophia Hardy had four straight points of her own to help the Bruin lead balloon to 18. Though the Bucs scored eight straight to end the third, including a half-court heave at the buzzer, Fox still held a 57-47 advantage.

Whitworth kept up the pressure, though, making a game of it in the early stages of the fourth as Ayanna Tobeck cut the Bruin lead to five with a triple at the 8:53 mark. From that point on, Fox locked in. Paige Macduff made a tough driving layup, before, on cue, Ritter had a layup to make the lead nine. 

The Pirates made a triple to cut the lead to six, but fittingly, Ritter and Boehm had back-to-back treys to blow the game open, 67-55. Fox would allow just one bucket in the final 5:43 of the game, and Sophie Carbajal scored the final points of the game with a free throw as Fox downed the Pirates, 70-59.

Top Performances
As has been the case over the final games of the season, Kylie Ritter had the game of her life. The senior set a career high with 28 points and four triples made, and recorded her third straight double-double to boot thanks to 10 boards. Emma Boehm had a career night of her own, setting her own personal records with 11 points and six rebounds. Ritter and Tara Ushiro led the way with three steals apiece, while Paige Macduff had two blocks.

What It Means
George Fox improves to 13-10 (9-5 NWC), clinching their second straight season with a winning NWC record, while Whitworth falls to 5-18 (4-10 NWC) on the year.

What Happens Next 
The Bruins will have a quick turnaround, traveling six hours back to Newberg before facing the Pacific Boxers (9-14, 4-10 NWC) on Tuesday, February 17. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 pm.