12/11 - GEORGE FOX 59, CASCADE 43: Thomas Tosses in Career-High 25 as Bruins Topple T'Birds
NEWBERG, Ore. - A career-high 25 points by Kellie Thomas and a valuable 14 points from Robin Taylor when the rest of their teammates were struggling to hit anything carried the George Fox University Bruins to a 59-43 win over the Cascade College Thunderbirds in a non-conference women's basketball game Saturday night here at the Wheeler Sports Center's Miller Gym.
Thomas scored the Bruins' first 10 points and Taylor added a three-pointer as the home team built up a 13-6 lead midway through the first half. Thomas hit a three with 9:23 left in the period for the Bruins' first double-digit lead at 17-6, and the Bruins never trailed by less than 10 again. It was 33-14 at the break, and the Bruins extended the margin to as many as 25 in the second half at 48-23 with 12:47 to play on another three by Taylor.
Thomas connected on 7 of 13 from the field and Taylor was 5 for 9, but the remainder of the Bruins managed only 5 of 36 shots, leaving the team with a percentage of only .293 (17-58). Cascade struggled even more, hitting only .278 (15-54), and made 27 turnovers as the Bruins picked up 15 steals.
Thomas was 6 of 8 from three-point range, one short of the Bruin record for threes in a game of 7 by Christy Brock against Whitman on Jan. 8, 1999, and 5 of 6 from the line for her career-best 25. Liz Clark had 7 rebounds and 4 steals to lead the Bruins, and Karissa Boyd handed out 4 assists.
Molly Wilson scored 15 points to pace the Thunderbirds, while Lisa Berger-Freeman posted a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Cascade won the battle of the boards 46-42. Shara Brazzle had a game-high 5 assists, and Wilson made 3 steals.
George Fox improved to 3-2 with its third straight win and completed a sweep of the home-and-home series with the Thunderbirds. Cascade slipped to 4-6 on the season.
The Bruins next participate in the D3 Desert Shootout in Las Vegas, Nev., on Tuesday-Wednesday, Dec. 21 -22. Denison University will be the Bruins' opponent at 1:15 p.m. the first day, with either the University of La Verne or Kalamazoo College meeting the Bruins the second day at either 11:00 a.m. or 1:15 p.m. The Thunderbirds visit Warner Pacific College Friday, Dec. 17, at 5:30 p.m., opening Cascade Collegiate Conference play.