Press Release
2/10 - GEORGE FOX 77, LEWIS & CLARK 61: Bruins Use Early Hot Hand to Sink Pios and Stay Third in NWC
NEWBERG, Ore. - With third place in the Northwest Conference standings on the line, the George Fox University Bruins connected on 65% of their shots and 77% from three-point range in the first half to build up a big lead en route to a 77-61 win over the Lewis & Clark College Pioneers in a women's basketball contest Friday night here at the Wheeler Sports Center's Miller Gym.
In improving to 18-5 overall and 9-5 in the conference, the Bruins assured themselves of staying a half-step ahead of the other contenders in the league for the third and final spot in the NWC Tournament. Entering the evening, the Bruins were a half-game up on Lewis & Clark, Whitworth College, and Whitman College. Lewis & Clark dropped a game-and-a-half behind George Fox in falling to 11-10 overall and 7-6 in the league.
Allison Farr's jumper gave Lewis & Clark its only lead of the game at 4-2 with 16:26 left in the first period, a lead that lasted only 14 seconds. Katy Campbell's layup knotted the score and Tiffany Behary gave the Bruins the lead for good with a three-pointer with 15:40 left. Tiffany Schmidt's three put the Bruins up by 21 at 39-18 with 3:44 left before they settled for a 43-24 halftime lead.
Campbell was 6-6 from the field in scoring 13 points and Behary had 10 with 7 assists as the Bruins hit 17-26 from the floor and 7-9 from outside the arc in the first half. Crystal Castle and Farr had 10 apiece for the Pioneers.
The Bruins outscored the Pios 14-2 to start the second half, extending their lead to 31 at 57-26 on a Campbell free throw with 14:58 to play. With Schmidt and starting wing Robin Taylor going out around that time with minor injuries after taking tumbles, the Pios took advantage to mount a comeback. A 29-5 charge over the next 11 minutes, capped by a Castle jumper, brought the Pios within seven at 62-55 with 4:01 to play. Taylor, reinserted into the lineup, slowed the run with a layup, fueling a 9-0 George Fox outburst over a two-minute span that gave them a 71-55 lead with 1:40 to go and secured the win.
Campbell finished with 19 points to lead the Bruins, hitting 7-10 from the field, Behary had 13 with 8 assists, and Erin Powers scored 12. Taylor had a team-high 7 rebounds. The Bruins ended the game hitting 55.8% (29-52) from the floor, including 60.0% (9-15) from three-point range.
Castle posted a double-double with game highs of 20 points and 16 rebounds for the Pioneers, while Farr added 15 points. Kimberly Kittell handed out 8 assists. The Pioneers struggled offensively in every category, making only 35.1% (24-70) from the field, 23.1% (6-26) from long range, and 46.7% (7-15) from the free throw line, but did hold a slight 40-39 rebound edge.
The Bruins are off until next Friday when they visit NWC co-leader Pacific Lutheran University for a 6 p.m. game. The Pioneers visit Pacific University Saturday, also at 6 p.m. Both games will be followed by men's NWC games at 8 p.m.