11/30 - GEORGE FOX 52, ST. THOMAS 44: Bruins Down Tommies with Defense and Double-Doubles
NORTHFIELD, Minn. - Led by an outstanding defensive effort and double-doubles from Darby Cave and Liz Clark, the George Fox University Bruins knocked off their post-season nemesis, the University of St. Thomas Tommies, 52-44 in the final game of the Elite West Region Women's Basketball Invitational Sunday afternoon here at Carleton College's West Gym.
The game was not pretty, as the Bruins shot only 34.5 percent and committed 22 turnovers, but St. Thomas made only 28.1 percent of its field-goal attempts and turned the ball over 19 times as well. The difference was free throw shooting, as the Bruins canned 12-of-19 attempts to UST's 7-for-14. The Tommies, who made a school-record 12 three-pointers in Saturday's win over Luther, were an ice-cold 1-for-19 from beyond the arc.
The Bruins ended the first half with a 9-2 run, holding the Tommies scoreless for nearly eight minutes, and led 19-14 at the break. The Tommies used a 7-0 spurt early in the second half to pull within a pair at 25-23, but the Bruins responded with an 11-2 run and held off the Tommies down the stretch.
Cave finished with a game-high 12 points and 13 rebounds and blocked 4 shots, while Clark came off the bench to contribute 10 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. Kellie Thomas, coming off a 24-point performance Saturday against Carleton, tallied 11 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists, while Amy Fitch chipped in with 11 points.
Katie Wiberg, Erica Opdahl, and Lee Durant scored 10 points each for the Tommies, with Durant getting a team-high 8 rebounds. Jess Smith had 5 assists.
Members of the All-Tournament Team were Cave and Thomas of George Fox, Wiberg of St. Thomas, Kyle Bestul of Luther, and Megan Vig and Linnea Engel of Carleton.
George Fox is now 3-1 on the season and defeated St. Thomas, 1-1, for the first time in three meetings. In their previous two encounters, the Tommies eliminated the Bruins from the NCAA Division III National Tournament in 2000 in Abilene, Texas, and in 2001 in Newberg.
The Bruins next play their home opener on Saturday, Dec. 6, against Cascade College at 4:00 p.m. in Miller Gym at the Wheeler Sports Center.