1/31 - WHITMAN 53, GEORGE FOX 51: Missionaries Stage Late Rally from 10 Down to Stun Bruins
NEWBERG, Ore. - Down by 10 points with less than eight minutes left in the game, the Whitman College Missionaries used a 12-0 run to spark a late comeback and stunned the George Fox University Bruins 53-51 in Northwest Conference women's basketball Friday night (Jan. 31) here at the Wheeler Sports Center.
The game began as a tight one, neither team leading by more than four points until the Bruins began to assert themselves late in the first half. From an 18-18 tie with just over eight minutes left, the Bruins went on a 17-4 run to take a 35-22 lead with 1:46 remaining, sparked by Kellie Thomas, who scored 7 of her 14 first-half points in that stretch. It was a 10-point Bruin lead at the break, 35-25.
The Bruins were still up by 10 at 47-37 when Miryia Libbey hit a three-pointer for Whitman at the 7:35 mark, igniting a 12-0 spurt over the next three minutes. Leyla Khastou's third consecutive basket gave the Missionaries a 49-47 lead with 4:33 to play.
Thomas hit a jumper with 1:54 left for the Bruins' final lead at 51-50, but Stephanie Lien's layup at 1:00 put the Missionaries back on top 52-51. After a Bruin turnover, Denise Kirstein hit a free throw to make it 53-51 with 15 seconds left. Again the Bruins lost the ball on a turnover out of bounds with 7 second left, but stole the downcourt in-bounds pass. Thomas' off-balance shot from the right wing was short as time ran out.
Thomas was the only player in the entire game in double figures with 16 points for the Bruins. Amy Fitch had 7 rebounds, but the Bruins, who lead the league in rebound margin, were out-boarded 37-35. Fitch also had 5 assists, while Liz Clark had 4 steals.
Libbey, Kirstein, and Khastou all had 9 points for the Missionaries, while Mandee Romero had a game-high 8 rebounds and Kirstein had 4 assists.
With the setback, the Bruins dipped to 11-7 overall and 6-3 in the conference. The Missionaries improved to 6-11 overall and 4-5 in the league.
George Fox hosts Whitworth College Saturday (Feb. 1) in the George Fox Homecoming game at 6:00 p.m. Whitman visits Pacific Saturday at 6:00 p.m.