2/7 - GEORGE FOX 73, LEWIS & CLARK 61: Thomas Tallies 19 as Bruins Put Away Pioneers
NEWBERG, Ore. - Kellie Thomas poured in 19 points to lead the George Fox University past the Lewis & Clark College Pioneers 73-61 in a Northwest Conference women's basketball game Friday night (Feb. 7) here at the Wheeler Sports Center, the 18th straight win by the Bruins over the Pios.
Jumpers by Tamika Hardy and Lindsay Tarr gave Lewis & Clark an early 4-0 lead, but the Bruins responded with back-to-back 3-pointers by Emily Ruggles and Thomas that sparked an 18-0 run, and the Bruins never trailed again. The closest the Pioneers got was within 5 at 27-22 with 1:56 left in the half, but the Bruins held a 35-27 lead at the break and maintained a double-digit lead throughout most of the second half. The biggest margin was 18 at 65-47 with 6:02 left on a free throw by Laura Koval.
In addition to 19 from Thomas, Ruggles added a career-high 11, including a trio of 3-pointers. Koval and Liz Clark nabbed 10 rebounds apiece as the Bruins owned the backboards 47-37. Ruggles also had 5 assists.
Krystle Mortimore scored 18 to pace the Pios, and Nnenna Lewis chipped in with 12. Lewis and Deidra Wilson were the top rebounders for Lewis & Clark with 5, while Mortimore passed out 6 assists.
George Fox improved to 12-8 overall and 7-4 in the conference, keeping alive hopes of making the NWC Tournament at the end of the year (the top three make it, and the Bruins were 4th, a game behind the University of Puget Sound, entering Friday's action). Lewis & Clark fell to 7-14 overall and 2-10 in the conference.
The Bruins visit Pacific University while the Pioneers travel to Willamette University Saturday (Feb. 8), both games starting at 6:00 p.m., followed by men's games at 8:00 p.m.