12/30 - GEORGE FOX 72, CONCORDIA 57: Bruins Cool Off Cavs with Second-Half Defensive Heat
NEWBERG, Ore. - Turning up their defensive heat a notch in the second half and finally getting hot from the field, the George Fox University Bruins cooled off the upset-minded Concordia University-Portland Cavaliers for a 72-57 win in women's non-conference basketball action Tuesday night here at Miller Gym in the Wheeler Sports Center.
It was the visiting Cavaliers who were on fire in the first half, sinking half their shots (12-24) and taking as much as an 8-point lead before settling for a 35-32 edge over the Bruins at the break. Christin Johnson hit 5-7from the field for 10 points to pace the Cavs to that lead, and only the Bruins' big rebounding margin (23-14, including 12 offensive boards) kept things close.
The home team came out sizzling in the second half, however, scoring the first 11 points of the half to take a lead they would not relinquish, thought the Cavs did close within two points at 50-48 with 11:16 to play. The Bruins pulled gradually pulled away from that point on, and the final score was the largest lead of the night. The Bruins hit 57.1% in the second half (16-28) while holding the Cavs to 30.8% (8-26).
Liz Clark and Darby Cave each had double-doubles to lead the Bruins, Clark collecting 15 points on 7-10 shooting from the field and 10 rebounds, while Cave had 10 of each. Melissa Alexander scored a career-high 14 points and Robin Taylor added 10. Amy Fitch passed out 8 assists, setting a new career high. The Bruins continued to dominate on the boards in the second half and wound up with a 44-25 advantage.
Katie Atkins scored 20 points and grabbed 8 rebounds to lead the Cavaliers in both categories, while Karla Flinn scored 11 and Johnson, who was shut down in the second half, finished with 10. Flinn had 4 assists.
The Bruins improved to 6-2 on the season while handing the Cavaliers their 3rd straight defeat and dropping them to 2-11 for the year.
George Fox completes the non-conference portion of its schedule Saturday, Jan. 3, visiting St. Martin's College in Lacey, Wash., for a 7:00 p.m. contest. The Bruins defeated St. Martin's 60-52 on Dec. 12 in Newberg, their first win over an NCAA Division II program in coach Scott Rueck's 8-year tenure at George Fox. Northwest Conference play begins for the Bruins on Jan. 9 when they host the University of Puget Sound.
Concordia returns to action Friday, hosting Western Baptist College in a Cascade Collegiate Conference clash at 5:30 p.m.