Bruins Open New Year With Defensive Gem Over Missionaries

George Fox (6-4, NWC 2-1) hosts Whitworth College and Whitman (7-5, NWC 2-1) visits Linfield College Saturday in conference games at 4:00 PM, followed by men’s games at 6:00 PM.

Photo: George Fox Athletics

NEWBERG - Seizing control with a 16-7 run in the last eight minutes of the first half, the George Fox University Bruins resumed Northwest Conference play and got the new year started on a winning note with a 52-37 defensive gem over the Whitman College Missionaries in a women’s basketball game Friday night at the Wheeler Sports Center’s Miller Gym.

Whitman took an early 4-0 lead on baskets by Michelle Krall and Kristina Francis before the Bruins responded with an 8-0 run, sparked by a jumper and two free throws from Elise Kuenzi.

A pair of three-pointers by Shea Morrissey, who had 10 first-half points, gave Whitman a 12-11 lead with 8:45 left, but Katy Campbell hit a layup at the 7:55 mark to give the Bruins the lead for good 13-12 and initiate the home team’s run to a 27-19 halftime lead.

The Bruins continued to build on that lead as the second half opened, going on a 12-2 run in the first eight minutes of the period to take a 39-21 lead.

A steal and three-point play by Robin Taylor gave the Bruins their largest lead of 23 points at 48-25 with 6:05 left.

The Missionaries did not hit double figures in the second half until Emily Shubin put in a rebound basket with 4:56 left, making it 48-29 at that time.

Already the league leaders in field goal percentage defense (.347 coming in), the Bruins held the NWC’s most accurate team (.451) to a .246 shooting mark (14-57).

Kelsey Krumdieck, the Missionaries’ offensive leader with 15.1 points per game and a league-leading .622 shooting percentage, was held 11 points below her average with four points and made only 2-11 from the field.

Melissa Marek-Farris led the Bruins with her third double-double of the season, scoring 10 points while pulling down 10 rebounds and blocking four shots.

Taylor, Campbell, and Kuenzi had eight points each, and Taylor and Campbell also had seven rebounds as the Bruins controlled the boards 43-37.

Taylor and B.B.Gardner had three assists each.

Morrissey and Hilary White off the bench had 10 points each to pace the Missionaries, who had no one else with more than four.

Krumdieck and Shubin had seven rebounds apiece, while Katie Patneaude passed out three assists.

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