Press Release
12/8 - MSU-NORTHERN 72, GEORGE FOX 55: Skylights Outshine Bruins in Wells Fargo Tourney Opener
LEWISTON, Idaho - After a fast start in which they hit four three-pointers in the first seven minutes, the George Fox University Bruins saw their shooting touch slip away in a 72-55 loss to the Montana State University-Northern Skylights in the opening game of the Wells Fargo Invitational women's basketball tournament Friday afternoon here at Lewis-Clark State College's Activity Center.
Early threes by Nicole Hudson and Katy Campbell and a pair by Robin Taylor enabled the Bruins to take a 16-13 lead on the Skylights, who are ranked 27th in the NAIA Division I national poll. They extended that to as much as five points three times, the last at 24-19 on a basket by Elise Kuenzi with 10:21 left. The Skylights then went on an 8-0 run to take a 27-24 lead and never trailed again, though the Bruins did forge one more tie at 31-31 with 4:47 left on a goal by Kristen Shielee. It was 39-34 MSU-Northern at the half.
After shooting .423 (11-26) in the first half, the Bruins dipped to .392 (9-25) in the second half as the Skylights pulled away, outscoring the Bruins 33-21 in the final stanza. MSU-Northern wound up at .456 (26-57) for the game to .392 (20-51) for George Fox.
Melissa Marek-Farris led the Bruins with 14 points, Campbell scored 12, and Taylor added 10 to go along with a team-leading seven rebounds. Hudson handed out five assists.
DeLayne Johnston had a double-double for the Skylights with game highs of 16 points and 13 rebounds, while Jena Heggem scored 14, Chelsie Searle 12, and Ashley Trulock 10. Becky Sorenson passed out five assists.
In the tournament's other game, host Lewis-Clark State edged Simon Fraser University 72-70. Saturday's pre-determined schedule has Montana State-Northern (9-3) vs. Simon Fraser (14-2) at 2 p.m., followed by George Fox (4-2) and Lewis-Clark State (9-1 and No. 8 in the NAIA Division I poll) at 4 p.m.