2/27 - WHITWORTH 64, GEORGE FOX 59: Cave Closes within 12 of 1,000 Points but Bruins Fall to Pirates
SPOKANE, Wash. - Darby Cave moved within 12 points of 1,000 for her career by scoring a game and career-high 23 points, but it was not enough as the Whitworth College Pirates took a 64-59 win over the George Fox University Bruins in a Northwest Conference women's basketball game Friday night here at the Whitworth Fieldhouse.
In the first half, the Pirates outscored the Bruins 22-5 to turn an 18-11 deficit into a 32-23 lead with just over four minutes to play. Whitworth went into the locker room with a 37-29 lead.
George Fox remained within striking distance throughout the second half behind Kellie Thomas, who had 10 points and 11 rebounds after halftime. But each time the Bruins got close, Whitworth answered with a big shot. After Liz Clark pulled Fox to within 46-43, Sarah Shogren hit a three-pointer. When Kim Leith made two free throws with 6:34 to play to make the score 54-50, Micki DesMarais drove in for a key lay-up. Thomas' three-pointer that pulled the Bruins within 59-57 with three minutes to go was followed by another Shogren three-pointer. Tiffany Speer's two free throws with 14 seconds to play sealed the win.
Cave notched her points by hitting 10 of 12 from the field and 3 of 4 from the line, giving her 988 career points with one game left. She ranks 9th on the Bruins' all-time scoring list, and could become the 9th player in team history to reach 1,000 points. Thomas posted her first career double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds, and Leith chipped in with 11 points. Amy Fitch had a game-high 7 assists. The Bruins once again controlled the backboards 42-37 and made 23 field goals to 18 for Whitworth, but were nailed at the free throw line, making 7 of 8 while the Pirates canned 19 of 24.
Dani Bielec led the Pirates with 19 points, draining 4 of 6 three-pointers. Shogren finished with 15 points and 8 rebounds while Speer added 12 points and 7 rebounds. DesMarais and Wenchi Liu had 4 assists apiece.
George Fox fell to 13-11 overall and 7-8 in the conference. Whitworth concluded its season at 19-6 overall and 11-5 in the NWC, placing 4th in the conference and with three straight seasons with at least 18 wins.
The Bruins conclude their season at Whitman on Saturday evening (Feb. 28) at 6:00 p.m., followed by a men's game at 8:00 p.m.