1/31 - WHITMAN 48, GEORGE FOX 47: Surprising Missionaries Stun Bruins with Late Free Throw
NEWBERG, Ore. - Katie Patneaude sank the second of two free throws with 5 seconds left, giving the Whitman College Missionaries a 48-47 edge over the George Fox University Bruins in a Northwest Conference women's basketball game on Homecoming night Saturday here at Miller Gym in the Wheeler Sports Center.
The first half was a definite study in contrasts. Whitman got out of the blocks fast, jumping out to a 13-2 lead in the first seven minutes. The final 13 minutes belonged to the Bruins, however, as they out-scored the Missionaries during that time 18-4 to take a 20-17 halftime lead.
A layup by Kellie Thomas and two free throws by Darby Cave gave the Bruins their biggest lead of the game at 24-17 with 18:35 to play, but Patneaude responded with a layup and a three-point play to get the Missionaries back in the game. In the final 16 minutes, there were 8 ties and 3 lead changes.
Whitman took its largest lead of the half on a 3-pointer by Shea Morrisey at 45-41 with 2:23 to go, but the Bruins tied it on layups by Cave and Thomas with 1:23 left. Denise Kirstein for Whitman and the Bruins' Amy Fitch traded baskets for a 47-47 tie with 29 seconds remaining, setting up Patneaude's winning free throw after a foul inside by Cave. Liz Clark's 35-foot attempt at the buzzer for the Bruins fell just short.
Cave and Kim Leith were the top Bruin scorers with 10 points each, while Clark grabbed 12 rebounds, pacing the Bruins to a 46-43 advantage on the boards. Clark also had 4 assists. While the defense held the Missionaries to only 29.9% shooting (20-67), the Bruins hurt themselves with 17 turnovers to only 9 for Whitman.
Patneaude was the only Missionary in double figures with 21, 15 in the second half. Kirstein had 10 rebounds, and Lizzy Washburn passed out 4 assists.
George Fox dropped to 9-7 overall and 3-5 in the conference, while Whitman improved to 11-5 overall and 6-2 in the league. The Missionaries, picked in the pre-season coaches' poll to finish 8th, have become the NWC's biggest surprise as they maintained at least a share of second place with the win.
The Bruins head for Tacoma next weekend to start the second half of conference play, first visiting the University of Puget Sound on Friday (Feb. 6). The Missionaries travel to Salem to take on Willamette University Friday. Both games are at 6:00 p.m., followed by men's games at 8:00 p.m.