NEWBERG, ORE. -- The George Fox University women's basketball team, ranked 18th by D3Hoops.com, defeated visiting Willamette University, 78-34, in a Northwest Conference game on Friday, Feb. 8 at the Wheeler Sports Center. George Fox upped its record to 18-2 overall, including 10-1 in the NWC. Willamette moved to 4-16 on the season, 2-9 in the NWC.
Alex Zennan (Fr., G, Sammamish, WA/Eastlake HS) led Willamette with 11 points. Molly Fillion (Jr., G, Silverton, OR/Silverton HS/Linn-Benton CC) provided the Bearcats with nine points and five rebounds. She was 3 of 4 from the field, including 3 of 3 on three-point shots. Nicki Clowdsley (Fr., C, Sammamish, WA/Skyline HS) grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.
Melissa Marek-Farris topped GFU with 16 points and led the Bruins with eight rebounds. Jaime Hubka contributed 13 points, while Katy Campbell added 11 points. Kristen Shielee also reached doubled figures, as she tallied 10 points on 5 of 9 shooting.
George Fox built a 34-12 lead in the first half, as the Bruins shot 40.0% (12 of 30) and held WU to just 26.3% accuracy from the field (5 of 19). Jaime Hubka led GFU with eight points at the break. Zennan tallied eight points in the first half for the Bearcats.
After Molly Fillion scored the first points of the second half on a 3-pointer for Willamette, the Bruins prevented a rally and continued to pull away. GFU answered Fillion's basket with an 8-0 run to claim a 44-15 advantage. The lead reached 56-23 on a layup by Tiffany Behary with 10:50 remaining.
George Fox shot 47.4% during the game (27 of 57), including 55.6% (15 of 27) in the second half. Willamette was held to 30.2% shooting (13 of 43) on the night. The Bearcats made 5 of 16 three-pointers (31.3%), while GFU sank 6 of 17 trifectas (35.3%).
At the foul line, GFU converted 18 of 29 attempts (62.1%), while Willamette was 3 of 6 on free throws. The Bruins outrebounded the Bearcats, 40-27, and committed only 12 turnovers, while forcing WU into 28 turnovers.
In the NWC, the Bruins trail the University of Puget Sound (11-1) by one-half game at the top of the standings. Willamette is tied with Linfield College (2-9) for seventh in the NWC.
Willamette will play again on Saturday, Feb. 9, when the Bearcats host Pacific Lutheran University at Cone Field House in Salem, Ore. The Lutes, 4-7 in the NWC, hold sixth place in conference standings. The Bearcats defeated the Lutes, 67-64, in Tacoma, Wash., on Jan. 12.
