1/21 -GEORGE FOX 64, LINFIELD 61: Perfect Night at the Line Lifts Bruins by Linfield
McMINNVILLE, Ore. - Hitting a school-record 18-18 from the free throw line (and needing every one of them), the George Fox University Bruins posted a hard-fought 64-61 win over the Linfield College Wildcats in a Northwest Conference women's basketball game Tuesday night (Jan. 21) here at Ted Wilson Gym.
The Wildcats led throughout the first half, taking as much as a 9-point lead at 25-16 with 9:55 left after 6-1 post Shea Wright went outside the key to hit back-to-back 3-pointers. The Bruins stayed close, however, behind 13 first-half points from Kellie Thomas, and trailed only 37-35 at the half.
Thomas hit a trey to open the second half for the Bruins' first lead of the game, but Monica Schwing put Linfield back on top moments later with a rebound basket, and the Wildcats maintained a narrow lead until Darby Cave hit a short hook with 7:01 left to put George Fox ahead again 54-53. The Bruins never trailed thereafter, but never had more than a 4-point lead either.
Liz Clark hit a driving layup to break a 58-58 tie with 2:56 left, then hit two free throws for a 62-58 Bruin lead with 1:56 to go. Schwing made a layup with 43 seconds left to make it 62-60, then was fouled after the shot and got two freebies. She made the first, missed the second, and Linfield rebounded, only to turn the ball over later. George Fox threw the ball away on an inbounds play with 17 seconds left, but Melissa McBride forced a baseline jumper with 5 seconds left that was short, Thomas rebounded, and hit two free throws to make it 64-61. Leah Moore's running 3-point try at the buzzer bounced off the rim.
Thomas finished with 18 points, hitting 6-6 from the line, Cave added 16,and Clark scored 14 with a 4-4 free throw game. Also contributing to the Bruins' new record at the line were Sarah Myhre (4-4), Amy Fitch (2-2), and Laura Koval (2-2). Clark had her second straight double-double with a game-high 10 rebounds as the Bruins edged the Wildcats on the boards 37-36. Fitch and Thomas had 5 assists each. The Bruins held Linfield to only 25% shooting in the second half (8-32).
Wright led Linfield with 17 points and Schwing added 11. Sticka and Moore grabbed 5 rebounds apiece, while Moore made 7 steals on defense as the Wildcats forced 23 turnovers. Makaira Coblentz had 6 assists.
The win improved the Bruins to 10-6 overall and 5-2 in the conference, while their Yamhill County rivals dropped their third straight, falling to 9-6 overall and 3-3 in the league.
George Fox visits Willamette University and Linfield hosts Pacific University Friday (Jan. 24), both games at 6:00 p.m., followed by men's games at 8:00 p.m.