12/14 - SEATTLE 65, GEORGE FOX 58: Redhawks Use Free Throws to Overtake Bruins in 2nd Half
NEWBERG, Ore. - Kristin Connolly scored 21 points, 17 in the second half, and the Seattle University Redhawks used a 20-7 advantage in free throws to overcome the George Fox University Bruins 65-58 in a non-conference women's basketball game Saturday evening (Dec. 14) here at the Wheeler Sports Center.
Other than four ties, the Bruins led throughout the first half, twice building up 8-point leads behind 10 first-half points from Kellie Thomas and 9 from Liz Clark. The Bruins, hoping to avenge a loss to the Redhawks in Seattle in their season opener, led at the break, 30-25.
Connolly, a transfer from the University of Kentucky, jump-started the Redhawks at the outset of the second half, scoring a three-pointer, a layup, and a jumper around a layup by the Bruins' Amy Fitch for a 32-32 tie. Fitch hit another jumper in the lane for the Bruins' last lead at 34-32 with 16:38 left, but Leah Welton canned a jumper and four free throws in a 7-0 run that put the Redhawks on top to stay.
The Bruins stayed close behind Thomas's 9 second-half points and a pair of clutch three-pointers by Heidi Collier, getting within one at 55-54 on a trey by Clark, but Connolly enabled the Redhawks to pull away with a three and two more free throws. The discrepancy from the line was more than the home team could overcome as Seattle hit 17-24 from the line in the second half to only 2-4 for George Fox.
Connolly finished with 21 to lead all scorers, and Welton and Lisa Milne, who was 8-8 from the line, had 13 each. Courtney Tinsley grabbed 15 rebounds as the Redhawks controlled the board 46-39.
In addition to 19 points by Thomas, a career high, Clark scored 14 and Fitch 11 for the Bruins. Clark made it a double-double night with 10 rebounds and picked up 4 steals.
George Fox is now 4-2 overall, while Seattle, an NCAA Division II team, improved to 5-2 and won for the first time in Newberg after losses in three previous meetings here.
The Bruins are off until after Christmas when they will take on Rowan University of New Jersey in the Surf 'n' Slam Tournament at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, Calif., on Friday, Dec. 27. The game time is to be announced. The Redhawks visit Linfield College in McMinnville Sunday (Dec. 15) for a 3:00 p.m. game.