Lady Bruins shooting with success
by Perry Knudson, Guest Reporter
17-2. 17 for 19. 2 out of 19. 17 wins and 2 losses. 2 losses and 17 wins You just can't make that sound bad. Any way you cut it, it's going to satisfy your Bruin-sized hunger. The women's basketball team is setting a big piece of success in front of George Fox. Have you noticed?
Under the coaching of Scott Rueck, the Bruins are shooting and hustling their way past team after team. The season began on November 16 with a 98 point win over Multnomah Bible College. Though Multnomah has never competed in women's basketball before, the win was a great confidence booster for Fox and has proven to be a launching pad for the season. They have currently played eleven games in a row without a setback. They tried to continue this streak on February 1 in Tacoma where they competed against Pacific Lutheran University. These two teams played earlier this season and Fox walked away with a 64-40 victory over the Lutes.
Confidence is major part of competition. In fact, it is one of the biggest contributors (or subsequent hindrances) to athletes. However, lack of confidence should certainly not be a factor as the women step on the court. 17 and 2 are pretty good odds going into any game. Padding that stat is the girl's 8-0 record in league play. The Bruins have proven their ability to push themselves past the challenge the opposing team presents, no matter who the challenger might be. They women are competing against themselves and the little voice that speaks inside every athlete. The Bruins play each night like they have something to show that voice. Game to game, they show up eager to push the boundaries anyone would wish to trap them in. Their record is a tell-tale sign of their ability to accomplish this.
Another tally in the "W" column is not the only outcome of winning. The women have more pressure to deal with after every victory. Though often thought of as a negative thing, pressure can sometimes give athletes a needed boost to compete at their very best. This team seems to feed on it. The women played very well last year as they competed in high-pressure post season play. Even though they finished with a loss against the University of Puget Sound Loggers and Pacific Lutheran, the games were nail biters in which the play was exciting until the final buzzer. Hopefully, the past will encourage the women to strive for more. The Bruins hope to be the only NCAA Division III women's basketball team to end their post-season play with a win this year. Of course, ending as national champions will gain the program another sought after goal, respect.
So what is the point of saying this? The women's basketball team is currently ranked 12/13 in the nation. Quite an accomplishment! They have worked very hard to be in this position. In fact, they continue to put long hours in the gym everyday in order to improve and stay hungry for more. Their next home game is Feb. 8 at 6:00 pm, and the team deserves the support of our student body. The heartbeat of the Bruins grows stronger with each George Fox representative in the bleachers.