11/26 - GEORGE FOX 69, WESTERN BAPTIST 55: Leith Ignites Bruins Past Warriors in Final 10 Minutes
NEWBERG, Ore. - Kim Leith sparked a 7-0 run with two one-on-one layups and an assist on a three-point fast-break play by Kellie Thomas, breaking a 48-48 tie and leading the George Fox University Bruins to a 69-55 win over the Western Baptist College Warriors in a non-conference women's basketball game Tuesday night (Nov. 26) here at the Wheeler Sports Center.
The Bruins' win in their home opener evened their record at 1-1, while the Warriors slipped to 1-3. It was George Fox's 5th straight win in the series and improved their all-time record against Western Baptist to 27-4.
Leith's first basket in the 7-0 run came with 10:06 left and started the Bruins on a 21-7 clip to end the contest. Thomas scored a layup on Leith's assist, was fouled, and hit the free throw at the 9:02 mark, giving George Fox a 55-48 lead, and the Warriors got no closer than five the rest of the way. Three baskets by Darby Cave and a pair of free throws by Leith gave the Bruins an 8-0 run in the final two minutes to seal the 14-point win.
George Fox took an early 8-4 lead in the game before the Warriors battled back behind a red-hot Toran Lundgren, who scored 8 points on three baskets and two freebies in a 1:13 span to give Western Baptist a 28-20 lead with 5:29 left in the half. Thomas then got hot for the Bruins, scoring all 8 of her first-half points in the final four-and-a-half minutes to give George Fox a 32-31 halftime edge.
The second half was nip-and-tuck over the first 10 minutes, with 8 lead changes during that time and neither team mounting more than a 3-point lead. Cassie Llewellyn's layup off a post move for the Warriors knotted the game for the final time 48-48 with 10:19 to play before Leith ignited the Bruins.
Cave led George Fox with 18 points, Thomas scored 13, and Sarah Myhre added 11. Myhre had a team-high 6 rebounds while Liz Clark and Laura Koval had 5 each as the Bruins out-rebounded the taller Warriors 41-31. Thomas passed out 7 assists.
Lundgren finished with 22 points, the only Warrior in double figures, and had a game-high 9 rebounds. Tati Gallardo handed out 8 assists.
George Fox takes on Eastern Oregon University Friday (Nov. 29) in the Lady 'Yote Classic in Caldwell, Idaho, at 4:00 p.m. PDT. Western Baptist hosts Pacific University Tuesday (Dec. 3) at 7:30 p.m.