2/18 - GEORGE FOX 67, PUGET SOUND 45: Bruins a Step Closer to NWC Title with Win over Loggers
TACOMA, Wash. - Moving one step closer to a Northwest Conference title, the George Fox University Bruins took control early and ran away from the University of Puget Sound Loggers 67-45 in a key women's basketball game Friday night here at Memorial Fieldhouse.
The Bruins scored the first 5 points and took an 11-2 lead four minutes into the game. The Loggers cut the lead to 11-7 with 13:22 left on a three-pointer by Layra Hirsch, but Kim Leith hit a pair of threes and Robin Taylor scored 9 points in a 15-1 run that put George Fox ahead 26-8 with 9:32 to go. Kilty Keaton canned a pair of threes that brought the Loggers within 10 at 34-24 with 1:22 remaining, but a rebound basket by Jordan Wilde and a fast-break layup by Tiffany Behary gave the Bruins a 38-24 halftime lead.
After Angie Straw scored the first basket of the second half for the Loggers, the Bruins took off on a 15-4 run, sparked by 9 more points from Leith, to take their largest lead of 23 points at 53-30 with 13:22 to play. The Loggers got no closer than 17 the rest of the way. The final 22-point margin was the largest difference in 21 meetings in the series.
Leith finished with a game-high 23 points and Taylor tallied 13, Erin Powers and Liz Clark grabbed 8 rebounds apiece, and Clark had 7 assists and 4 steals. The Bruins forced Puget Sound into twice as many turnovers, 16-33, resulting in twice as many field goals; the Bruins hit 27-70 from the field (.386) to 13-48 for the Loggers (.271).
Lindsay May posted a double-double for the Loggers with 13 points and 13 rebounds, but she was the only one in double figures. The Loggers owned the boards 45-36.
With its 4th straight win, George Fox climbed to 17-5 overall and 11-2 in the conference, maintaining its one-game lead over Whitworth College and game-and-a-half advantage over Pacific Lutheran University with three to play. Puget Sound, the defending conference champion, was mathematically eliminated from the race in falling to 15-7 overall and 6-7 in the league.
The Bruins play another critical game Saturday at Pacific Lutheran in Tacoma, while the Loggers host Linfield College. Both games are at 6:00 p.m., followed by men's games at 8:00 p.m.