Press Release
Overall 17-6: Home 10-1, Road 6-3, Neutral 1-2 / NWC 13-3 (1st, T): Home 7-1, Road 6-2
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HIGHLIGHTS:
* Coming Up: NWC Tournament Title Game Saturday at Home
* Recent Games: Bruins Win Two for NWC Co-Championship
* Rueck Earns 200th Win in Victory over Pacific Lutheran
* Campbell Repeats as BAA Athlete, NWC Player of the Week
* Lone Senior Taylor Honored Before Final Home Game
* Regional Rankings: Bruins Remain 6th in West Region
* Polls: Bruins Still Among "Others" in Both National Polls
* NCAA Stats: Bruins Ranked in Three Defensive Categories
* NWC Stats: Campbell Seizes League Lead in Rebounding
* Season/Career Lists: Marek-Farris Already 3rd in Career Blocks
RECENT GAMES: 2-0 (Click scores for link to stories and box scores):
Feb. 16 - at George Fox 65, Pacific Lutheran 52
Feb. 17 - at George Fox 78, Lewis & Clark 62
COMING UP: NWC Tournament Title Game Saturday at Home
2006-07 Northwest Conference women's basketball co-champion George Fox University has earned the top seed in this week's three-team conference tournament and will host the championship game Saturday night, Feb. 24, at 7 p.m. at the Wheeler Sports Center's Miller Gymnasium in Newberg, Ore.
Tickets for Saturday's championship game are $6.00 for adults and $3.00 for senior citizens 55 or older, students, and children. Students attending the two institutions involved in the title game will be admitted free with the display of a valid student ID from their school. Regular-season passes are not valid for admission to this post-season event. The game will be webcast via KFOX radio, the university's campus station, at www.kfoxradio.net.
George Fox (17-6) deadlocked for first with the University of Puget Sound (20-5), both 13-3 in league play. The Bruins claimed the bye into the tournament finale, however, by virtue of sweeping the two-game head-to-head competition with the Loggers. Puget Sound will host Linfield College (14-10), which tied for third with Lewis & Clark College at 9-7 in the NWC, Thursday night, Feb. 22, at 7 p.m. Linfield earned the third-place tiebreaker by going 2-2 vs. George Fox and Puget Sound while Lewis & Clark was 1-3 against the top teams.
Each of the teams in the tournament swept one series and lost one series to the other two. George Fox swept Puget Sound, Linfield swept George Fox, and Puget Sound swept Linfield. The Bruins defeated UPS 58-50 in Tacoma, Wash., Dec. 2, and 64-62 in Newberg Jan. 27. They lost to Linfield 55-51 in overtime in Newberg Nov. 28 and 51-50 in McMinnville, Ore., Jan. 23.
The winner of the NWC Tournament receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III National Tournament, which tips off Feb. 28. The complete field of teams is expected to be announced Sunday night, Feb. 25, with specific pairings, dates, sites, and times released Monday, Feb. 26, at 9 a.m.
This the fourth time in the last eight years that the Bruins have won or tied for the NWC crown. The Bruins were co-champs in 2000 and won the league outright in 2001 and 2005. Head coach Scott Rueck, now in his 11th season at George Fox, takes a 201-79 record into the post-season.
Notes on Puget Sound (20-5):
Series record: GFU trails 12-13 since 1982 (8-4 home, 4-9 road) â?¦ The Loggers are listed among "others receiving votes" in both the USA Today/ESPN/WBCA coaches' poll and the D3hoops.com poll ... Puget Sound averages 66.0 ppg (1st in the NWC) and allows 53.7 ppg (3rd) ... The Loggers lead the league in scoring margin (+12.4, 46th nationally), rebounding (41.2), and rebound margin (+5.9) ... UPS is 10th nationally in fewest turnovers per game (14.6) ... UPS has two players in double-figure scoring: G Laura Hirsh (10.5, 11th in the NWC) and F Allison Craven (10.5, tied for 11th) ... G Shelby Ramirez is the top rebounder (4.4, 19th) ... Coach Suzy Barcomb (Washington) is 168-66 (.718) to date in her 9th season at UPS ...
Notes on Linfield (14-10):
Series record: GFU leads 36-22 since 1981 (23-4 home, 13-16 road, 0-2 neutral) â?¦ Linfield averages 55.8 ppg (8th in the NWC) and allows 54.4 ppg (4th) ... Linfield's leading scorer is G Sara Burgoyne (9.0, 19th in the NWC) ... C Kate Stadeli is the top rebounder (6.1, 10th) â?¦ Coach Robyn Stewart (Montana State-Billings '87) is 126-125 (.502) to date in her 10th season at Linfield ...
Click here for the latest NWC Standings.
COACH SCOTT RUECK:
Scott Rueck (Oregon State '91) is 201-79 (.718) to date in his 11th season as a college head coach, all at George Fox. He picked up his 200th win Feb. 16 whenthe Bruins defeated Pacific Lutheran 65-52 at home. He is a three-time Northwest Conference Coach of the Year, being honored in 1999-2000, 2000-01 (Co-Coach), and 2004-05. Click here for the complete bio on Coach Rueck.
Rueck vs. upcoming opponents:
Puget Sound - 12-11 (8-3 home, 4-8 road)
Linfield - 17-6 (10-2 home, 7-4 road)
BRUIN BITS:
* Campbell Repeats as BAA Athlete, NWC Player of the Week
Katy Campbell has been named Bruin Athletic Association Women's Athlete of the Week and Northwest Conference Women's Player of the Week for Feb. 12-18, winning both honors for the second consecutive week. In a 65-52 win over Pacific Lutheran Friday, the junior forward had 10 points on 3-8 field goals and 4-4 free throws, with 10 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocked shots. In a 78-62 win over Lewis & Clark Saturday that clinched a share of the NWC title for the Bruins, she had 21 points on 8-15 field goals and 5-5 free throws, with 14 rebounds, 2 assists, and a steal. With double-doubles in both games, she has 6 in her career and 4 this season. For the week, she scored 31 points (15.5 ppg) on 11-23 field goals (.478) and 9-9 free throws (1.000), with 24 rebounds (12.0), 4 assists, 2 blocked shots and a steal. A six-time winner of the BAA weekly award, she is the only NWC player to earn league honors three times this season (Jan. 15-21 and Feb. 5-11 also). She ranks 1st in the NWC in rebounding (8.7), 3rd in free throw pct. (.803), 4th in field goal pct. (.505), 9th in scoring (11.3), and 13th in assists (2.17).
* 2006-07 Honors:
- Melissa Marek-Farris - Bruin Athletic Association Women's Athlete of the Week (Nov. 13-19, Jan. 1-7); NWC Player of the Week (HM-Nov. 13-19, Jan. 1-7)
- Katy Campbell - Bruin Athletic Association Women's Athlete of the Week (Nov. 20-26, Nov. 27-Dec. 3, Jan. 15-21, Jan. 29-Feb. 4, Feb. 5-11, Feb. 12-18); NWC Player of the Week (HM-Nov. 20-26, HM-Nov. 27-Dec. 3, Jan. 15-21, HM-Jan. 29-Feb. 4; Feb. 5-11; Feb. 12-18)
- Robin Taylor - Bruin Athletic Association Women's Athlete of the Week (Dec. 4-10, Dec. 11-21, Jan. 22-28); NWC Player of the Week (HM-Dec. 4-10, HM-Dec. 11-21, HM-Jan. 22-28)
- Tiffany Behary - Bruin Athletic Association Women's Athlete of the Week (Jan. 8-14), NWC Player of the Week (HM-Jan. 8-14)
* Lone Senior Taylor Honored Before Final Home Game
The only senior on this year's George Fox team, Robin Taylor, was honored for her four-year Bruin career before the final home game of the regular season Feb. 17 vs. Lewis & Clark. In her career to date, she has scored 949 points, passed for 170 assists, and made 120 steals, all ranking in the top 15 in Bruin history. She ranks 11th in career field goal pct. (.444) and 7th in free throw pct. (.775) at GFU. This season, she stands 4th in the Northwest Conference in scoring (12.4), free throw pct. (.800), 5th in assists (2.43, T) and assist/turnover ratio (1.22), 8th in 3-pt field goals (1.26), 12th in 3-pt pct. (.287), and 14th in rebounding (5.1). She is a three-time Bruin Athletic Association Women's Athlete of the Week and three-time honorable mention NWC Women's Player of the Week. With a 3.58 GPA in business administration, she was nominated for the ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Women's Basketball Academic All-District VIII College Division team. Last year, she was a Second Team All-NWC selection while leading the league in field goal pct. (.525). She is the daughter of Peter and Becka Taylor of Bend, Ore.
* Regional Rankings: Bruins Remain 6th in West Region
In the third NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Committee 2007 regional rankings of Feb. 21, the George Fox Bruins remained 6th in the West Region, as they were in each of the previous two ratings. With an overall record of 17-6, the Bruins are 13-4 against regional competition. Luther is the West's top team (120-4 overall, 16-2 in region), followed by Simpson (20-5, 16-4), Puget Sound (20-5, 16-3), St. Benedict (20-5, 20-3), Gustavus Adolphus (21-4, 21-4), and George Fox. The committee ranks six teams in seven regions and eight in Northeast Region, based on the number of teams in the particular region.
Click here for the NCAA Division III Regional Rankings
* Polls: Bruins Still Among "Others" in Both National Polls
George Fox remained among "others receiving votes" in both national polls this week. In the D3hoops.com poll of Feb. 19, which is voted on by a panel of 25 coaches, sports information directors, and media members, the Bruins picked up 21 points, nine more than the week before, the 4th-best total among "others". Puget Sound was also among "others" with 6 points. Bowdoin remained No. 1 with 612 points and 15 first-place votes.
The Bruins returned to the USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Coaches' Poll of Feb. 20 after being out last week, picking up 5 points. Puget Sound received 8. Bowdoin was No. 1 with 246 points and 7 first-place votes. The WBCA poll is voted on by a panel of 10 D-III coaches around the country.
Complete polls:
USA Today/ESPN Coaches' Poll / D3hoops.com Poll
* NCAA Stats: Bruins Ranked in Three Defensive Categories
In the latest NCAA national statistics (thru Feb. 18), Melissa Marek-Farris was 26th in blocked shots (2.5) â?¦ As a team, the Bruins were 25th in defense (52.1 ppg), 25th in field goal pct. defense (.336), and 41st in blocked shots (4.4) ...
Click here for the latest NCAA Statistics.
* NWC Stats: Campbell Seizes League Lead in Rebounding
Where the Bruins rank in the latest Northwest Conference stats (thru Feb. 21):
Scoring Offense - 3rd (63.0)
Scoring Defense - 1st (52.1)
Scoring Margin - 2nd (+10.9)
Field Goal Pct. - 1st (.422)
Field Goal Pct. Defense - 1st (.336)
3-Pt Field Goals - 2nd (5.65)
3-Pt Field Goal Pct. - 2nd (.322)
3-Pt Field Goal Pct. Defense - 1st (.267)
Free Throw Pct. - 5th (.708)
Rebounding Offense - 4th (38.1)
Rebounding Defense - 5th (35.4)
Rebounding Margin - 4th (+2.7)
Assists - 1st (14.22)
Blocked Shots - 1st (4.39)
Steals - 5th (7.22)
Turnover Margin - 7th (-1.04)
Assist/Turnover Ratio - 2nd (0.82:1)
- Robin Taylor is 4th in scoring (12.4), free throw pct. (.800), 5th in assists (2.43, T), assist/turnover ratio (1.22), 8th in 3-pt field goals (1.26), 12th in 3-pt pct. (.287), 14th in rebounding (5.1) ...
- Katy Campbell is 1st in rebounding (8.7), 3rd in free throw pct. (.803), 4th in field goal pct. (.505), 9th in scoring (11.3), 13th in assists (2.17) ...
- Melissa Marek-Farris is 1st in blocked shots (2.48), field goal pct. (.551), 6th in rebounding (6.7), 10th in scoring (11.0), 15th in free throw pct. (.642) â?¦
- B.B. Gardner is 8th in assist/turnover ratio (1.11), 10th in assists (2.22) â?¦
- Jaime Hubka is 2nd in 3-pt pct. (.443), 11th in 3-pt field goals (1.17) â?¦
- Kristen Shielee is 2nd in blocked shots (1.44) ...
Click here for the latest NWC Statistics.
* Double-Doubles:
- Melissa Marek-Farris: Career 4, season 4 - 15 pts/12 reb vs. Northwest, 11/18; 16 pts/11 reb vs. Bridgewater at Honolulu, Hawaii, 12/18; 10 pts/10 reb vs. Whitman, 1/5; 22 pts/14 reb vs. Pacific Lutheran, 2/16
- Katy Campbell: Career 6, season 4 - 12 pts/13 reb at Puget Sound, 12/2; 15 pts/13 reb vs. Puget Sound, 1/27; 10 pts/10 reb vs. Pacific Lutheran, 2/16; 21 pts/14 reb vs. Lewis & Clark, 2/17
- Robin Taylor: Career 1, season 1 - 13 pts/10 reb vs. Pacific, 2/10
* Season/Career Lists: Marek-Farris Already 3rd in Career Blocks
- Robin Taylor entered the season with the 7th-best free throw pct. (.760, 114-150) in Bruin history. She is now at .774 (178-230), still 7th ... With 949 career points, she is 45 away from 10th on the all-time list (Darby Cave 994, 2000-04), and 51 from becoming the 10th Bruin with 1,000 for a career ...
- Katy Campbell now ranks 10th on the all-time free throw pct. list (.739, 122-165) ...
- Melissa Marek-Farris has 57 blocked shots this season, now the 8th-best total in a single season. Shawna Chandler had 60 in both 1982-83 and 1983-84 ... With 93 career blocks, she ranks 3rd all-time. It will take a while to catch the 2nd-place Bruin: Shawna Chandler had 188 (1982-85) ...
- Tiffany Behary now has 182 career assists and needs 12 to move into 10th all-time (Heather Gurney 193, 1987-91) ...
* Bruins vs. Ranked Teams (3-2):
Dec. 2 - defeated NCAA D-III #17 Puget Sound 58-50 in Tacoma, Wash.
Dec. 8 - lost to NAIA D-I #27 Montana State-Northern 55-72 in Lewiston, Idaho
Dec. 9 - lost to NAIA D-I #8 Lewis-Clark State 59-67 in Lewiston, Idaho
Dec. 18 - defeated NCAA D-III #16 Bridgewater 57-41 in Honolulu, Hawaii
Jan. 27 - defeated NCAA D-III #20 Puget Sound 64-62 in Newberg, Ore.