Press Release
2/9 - GEORGE FOX 75, WILLAMETTE 32: (Almost) Everyone Scores as Bruins Blow Out Bearcats
SALEM, Ore. - With a well-balanced attack that saw 15 of their 16 players get in the scoring column, the George Fox University Bruins jumped out to a 10-0 lead and never looked back in routing the Willamette University Bearcats 75-32 in a Northwest Conference women's basketball game Friday night here at the Cone Fieldhouse.
The win improved the Bruins' record to 14-6 overall and 10-3 in the conference, keeping them one game behind the 11-2 University of Puget Sound, which cut down Whitworth College 73-55 Friday. The Bearcats, playing without top scorer and rebounder Keilyn Fujioka, dropped to 4-18 overall and 2-11 in the league.
The presence of Fujioka probably would have made little difference as the Bruins were in total control the whole way. Melissa Marek-Farris and Katy Campbell scored four points each in the Bruins' 10-0 start, and the George Fox defense held the Bearcats scoreless until Tracie Nygaard hit a jumper with 13:19 left in the first half. Willamette got within six on another Nygaard basket at 14-8 with 9:42 left, but the Bruins then went a 9-0 run to up the margin to 23-8 on a Robin Taylor bucket with 7:44 left. The Bruins' lead remained in double digits the rest of the way, and they led 35-14 at the break.
The George Fox lead continued to grow in the second half, finally reaching its zenith of 43 points on Elisha Kampfe's layup with 1:20 remaining that made it 75-32, which was the final score. The Bruins held the Bearcats to a .226 shooting percentage (14-62) in the game, and with only 11 fouls, sent the home team to the line only five times all night.
Campbell with 11 points and Taylor with 10 were the only double-figure scorers for either team. The only Bruin who did not score, B.B. Gardner, helped everyone else get a few points as she passed out a game-high six assists. Kristen Shielee had a career-high nine rebounds, pacing the Bruins to a sizeable 47-33 rebound advantage, and also blocked three shots. The Bruins shot .466 (27-58) and sparkled at the line, sinking 14-16 (.875).
Laura Payne and Rebekah Wells had seven points apiece for the Bearcats, and Sara Brooks handed out three assists. Kari Woody had nine rebounds and three blocks.
George Fox plays its final three regular-season games at home, starting Saturday with Pacific University at 6 p.m. Willamette, which has concluded its home season, visits Linfield College Saturday, also at 6 p.m. Both games will be followed by men's NWC games at 8 p.m.