1/22 - GEORGE FOX 68, PACIFIC LUTHERAN 54: Bruins Hand Lutes First League Loss to Tie for First
NEWBERG, Ore. - Breaking open a tight game in the second half, the George Fox University Bruins handed Pacific Lutheran University its first Northwest Conference loss of the season 68-54 and moved into a first-place tie with the Lutes in women's basketball action Saturday night here in the Wheeler Sports Center's Miller Gym.
The first half saw both teams go on hot streaks. The Bruins hit four of their first five three-pointers to take a 14-8 lead four minutes into the game, but the Lutes responded with a 17-5 run over the next eight minutes to go in front 25-19. Back came the Bruins with an 11-2 burst that gave them a 30-27 lead with 2:37 to play. After ties of 30-30 and 32-32, Tiffany Behary, who had 13 first-half points to lead all scorers, sank two free throws with 4.8 seconds left, sending the Bruins into the locker room with a 34-32 lead.
The Bruins stayed in front throughout the second half and gradually stretched their lead to 14 at 65-51 on Kim Leith's drive and jump shot in the lane with 3:32 to play. Leith sparked the Bruins with 13 in the second half. The George Fox defense held the Lutes to a .320 (8-25) shooting percentage in the second half.
Leith finished with a game-high 20 points, Behary had 16, and Liz Clark and Katy Campbell both scored 12. Clark made it a double-double with 10 rebounds, her 4th this season and the 11th of her career. Clark and Robin Taylor had 4 assists each, while Clark and Campbell made 4 steals apiece as the Bruins totaled 14 steals out of 24 PLU turnovers. Campbell also had 3 of the Bruins' 7 blocks.
Kelly Turner, the NWC's leader in three-point shooting percentage, hit 5-11 from behind the arc en route to 19 points, the Lutes' only double-figure scorer. Kaydee Peterson's 10 rebounds led PLU to 40-31 advantage on the boards. Haley Martin had 4 assists and Emily Voorhies made 3 steals.
George Fox improved to 11-4 overall and 5-1 in the conference with its fourth straight win, while Pacific Lutheran slipped to 9-6 overall and 5-1 in the league as its own five-game winning was snapped. Whitworth College, a 63-28 winner over Pacific University Saturday, is also 5-1, creating a three-way tie for first.
The Bruins are back in action Tuesday, visiting Pacific University for a 6:00 p.m. game, followed by the men's game at 8:00 p.m. The Lutes go to Tacoma crosstown rival University of Puget Sound Friday at 6:00 p.m., with the men's game afterward at 8:00 p.m.