Women's Basketball Release
12/17 - GEORGE FOX 47, WESTERN OREGON 34: Schmidt Leads Bruins by Wolves for 9th Straight Win
MONMOUTH, Ore. - Tiffany Schmidt posted her first double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds and added 3 blocked shots on defense, leading the cold-shooting George Fox University Bruins to a 47-34 win over the even-colder Western Oregon University Wolves in a non-conference women's basketball game Saturday night here at WOU's New Physical Education Building.
When the two teams met eight days ago in Newberg, both turned in their highest offensive point totals of the season in the Bruins' 100-72 win. This time around, each turned in their lowest. Both teams struggled to warm up as the Bruins hit only 32.7% (17-52) from the field while the Wolves managed only 24.5% (13-53), percentages which seemed only a bit lower than the unusually-cold temperature in the gym.
The Wolves led only once in the game, taking a 6-5 lead with 16:31 left in the first half on a three-pointer by Chelsea Pahl, but the Bruins regained the lead for good on a jumper by Kim Leith for a 7-6 edge with 16:14 to go. Schmidt hit a layup with 1:04 left to give the Bruins a 27-16 halftime advantage.
In the second half, the Wolves twice got within six points before the Bruins responded with baskets by Robin Taylor and Melissa Marek-Farris. Two free throws by Schmidt with 8:54 left put the Bruins up by double figures for good at 37-27, and they took their largest lead of 16 points at 47-31 on a pair of freebies by Ashley Emerick with 55 second remaining.
Schmidt was the only Bruin in double figures, although Leith and Erin Powers chipped in with 7 each, and Powers added 7 rebounds. Taylor passed out 4 assists, and Tiffany Behary picked up 5 steals.
Ali Crumb led all scorers with 16 points for the Wiolves, 12 of them on three-pointers. WOU's leading scorer, Leada Berkey, was held to only 4 points but did have a team-high 8 rebounds. Pahl and Crumb had 3 assists apiece, and Jenni Brozovich had 3 steals.
George Fox, ranked 3rd in the USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Division III coaches' poll and 6th in the D3hoops.com poll, equaled its second-best start to a season in improving to 9-0, while Division II Western Oregon fell to 0-7. The Bruins return to action Friday, Dec. 30, at Hope International University in Fullerton, Calif., at 7:00 p.m. as the first half of a two-game trip to southern California. The Wolves next play 11th-ranked (D-II) Chico State University on Tuesday in Lacey, Wash., at the GNAC-CCAA Challenge.