2/18 - GEORGE FOX 56, LINFIELD 49: Free Throw Barrage Keeps Bruins Ahead in Win over Wildcats
NEWBERG, Ore. - Despite making only one field goal the entire second half, the George Fox University Bruins managed to stay one step ahead of the Linfield College Wildcats by sinking 20 free throws and hung on for a 56-49 win over their Yamhill County rivals in Northwest Conference women's basketball Tuesday night (Feb. 18) here at the Wheeler Sports Center.
The Bruins blistered the nets in the first half, opening up a 34-21 halftime lead by canning 15-23 from the field for 65.2%. Kellie Thomas was the hottest of the hot, hitting 6-7 with a pair of 3-pointers for 14 in the half.
A pair of free throws by Thomas were the only points the Bruins scored in the first 8 minutes of the second half, but a stingy Bruin defense that held the Wildcats to 24% shooting (6-25) in the half kept the visitors from catching up completely. The Bruins' lone field goal in the final 20 minutes was a driving layup by Kim Leith with 10:24 left that put the Bruins up 40-35, but they missed their other 13 attempts for a 7% shooting half.
The Bruins did not miss much at the free throw line, however, making 20-28 (71.4%) to cling to a tenuous lead. Linfield closed within two at 48-46 on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Heid Jurgens with 5:41 to play, but Wildcats then were held scoreless for over 4 minutes while George Fox was hitting 6-8 from the line to rebuild a more comfortable margin.
Thomas finished with 18 points to lead all scorers and Leith added 13 for the Bruins. Liz Clark grabbed 9 rebounds as the Bruins dominated the backboards 34-26. Leith had 3 assists.
Jurgens tallied 14 to pace the Wildcats and Monica Schwing chipped in with 10. Jurgens and Kristen Hand were the top Linfield rebounders with 4 each, and Jurgens also had 7 assists.
The Bruins moved a half-game past the Wildcats into 4th place in the NWC while improving to 14-10 overall and 9-6 in the league. The Wildcats saw their 4-game winning streak end as they fell to 14-9 overall and 8-6 in the NWC.
George Fox closes its season Friday (Feb. 21), hosting Willamette University, while Linfield visits Pacific University Friday, both games at 6:00 p.m., followed by men's games at 8:00 p.m.