Women's Basketball Release
11/18 - GEORGE FOX 69, SOUTHERN OREGON 48: Bruins Force Ton of Turnovers to Rout Raiders in Opener
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - A tenacious George Fox University defense picked up 21 steals and forced 36 turnovers as the Bruins opened their 2005-06 women's basketball season with a surprisingly-lopsided 69-48 win over the Southern Oregon University Raiders in the Harvest Ford / Harvest Auto Credit Classic Friday afternoon here at the Oregon Institute of Technology's Danny Miles Court.
The game began as a see-saw affair, with nine lead changes in the first 14 minutes. The Bruins took the lead for good with an 8-0 run that turned an 18-16 deficit into a 24-18 lead with 4:48 left in the half. Kim Leith hit a pair of free throws to tie it at 18-18, Robin Taylor was good on back-to-back layups, and Mandee Spotts nailed a jumper to cap the turnaround. It was 30-24 George Fox at the break.
Southern Oregon got within three at 33-30 on a layup by Kelsey Richards with 16:43 left in the game, but the Bruins then went on a 13-0 run over the next three minutes to take a comfortable 46-30 lead. Erin Powers canned a free throw, a layup, and a three-pointer to fuel the run. The Bruins eventually led by as many at 24 points, reaching that margin five times.
Taylor led the Bruins with a game-high 15 points, pre-season Third Team All-American Leith added 11, and Powers scored 10. The Bruins had 11 different players score, and 11 picked up at least one steal apiece. Katy Campbell had a game-high 7 rebounds, and Powers passed out 3 assists.
Andi Peterson topped the Raiders with 14 points and Richards tallied 11. Emily Brough and Kat Cox had 6 rebounds each as Southern Oregon held a 39-35 advantage on the boards. Ashley Moore had a game-high 5 assists.
It was the first game of the season for the NCAA Division III's 8th-ranked Bruins, while the Raiders of the NAIA slipped to 5-2. George Fox will next take on host Oregon Tech Saturday at 5:30 p.m., while Southern Oregon will meet Holy Names University earlier Saturday at 1:30 p.m. Oregon Tech and Holy Names played Friday evening at 5:30.