12/21 - GEORGE FOX 66, DENISON 57: Leith Keys 20-Point Run as Bruins Bounce Big Red in Vegas
LAS VEGAS, Nev. - A 20-0 run, sparked by 11 of Kim Leith's game-high 23 points, enabled the George Fox University Bruins to take control of a close ballgame and go on to a 66-57 win over the Denison University Big Red in the D3 Desert Shootout women's basketball tournament Tuesday afternoon here at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas' Lied Gym.
With Leith hitting two buckets, including a three-pointer, the Bruins jumped out to an 11-5 lead six minutes into the game, but that was the largest lead for either team in the half. Katy Campbell's three-pointer with 30 seconds left in the period enabled the Bruins to take a 31-30 edge into the break.
Denison's Emma Woodward canned a three to put the Big Red ahead 33-31 to start the second half, but the Bruins exploded for 20 unanswered points in a five-minute span to take a 51-33 lead with 14:23 to play. Liz Clark, Kellie Thomas, Tiffany Behary, and Leith hit consecutive threes to start the rally, then Leith hit a short jumper and two more long-range baskets to cap the outburst.
Caitlin Krupka scored for Denison at 13:33 to end the George Fox run, igniting a rally for the Big Red, who out-scored the Bruins 20-6 over the next 10 minutes. A three-pointer by Denison's Sam Davis cut the margin to 57-53 with 3:41 to go before the Bruins reasserted themselves. Leith hit her fifth three-pointer of the game, Thomas scored a pair of goals around a basket by Denison's Tammy Hoch, and Clark sealed the decision with a basket at the 1:01 mark for an insurmountable 66-55 lead.
Leith hit 9-18 from the field and 5-8 from three-point range en route to her 23, and also had a game-high 4 steals as the Bruins forced 25 Big Red turnovers. Clark recorded her ninth career double-double and second of the season with 12 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, and Behary scored 11 while passing out a game-high 5 assists. The Bruins, who lead the Northwest Conference in three-point field goals with over eight per game, sank 13-28 from three-point range.
Woodward led the Big Red with 19 points, including 5-9 on threes, and Kristen Sheffield added 11. Hoch pulled down 8 rebounds, leading Denison to a 43-36 edge on the boards. Hoch and Marisa Hard handed out 3 assists apiece.
George Fox improved to 4-2 with its fourth straight win, while Denison dropped to 5-3. The Bruins will play Kalamazoo College (6-2), a 73-59 winner over the University of La Verne (2-4) earlier in the day, at 1:15 p.m. Wednesday. Denison and La Verne will meet at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday.