NEWBERG, ORE. -- George Fox University built an 18-point halftime lead and continued to pull away in the second half, as the Bruins defeated Willamette University, 87-46, on Tuesday, Jan. 25 at the Wheeler Sports Center. GFU improved to 13-5 overall, 7-2 in the Northwest Conference, one-half game behind conference leader Lewis & Clark College (7-1). Willamette dropped to 2-14, 1-8 in the NWC.
Keisha Gordon led the Bruins with 15 points on 5 of 7 field goals and 5 for 5 shooting at the line. She also earned five rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Megan Arnoldy added 13 points and a game-high eight rebounds, while Carly Towne contributed 11 points and four assists. Hannah Munger provided the Bruins with eight points and eight rebounds.
For Willamette, MacKenzie Lamson (Fr., F, Portland, OR/Lincoln HS) scored 15 points and four boards. Shayne Glynn (Sr., F, Boise, ID/Walla Walla CC) earned seven points, while Kaileigh Westermann (Jr., F, Belfair, WA/South Kitsap HS) finished with five points and six rebounds.
GFU, which received points but was not ranked in this week's NCAA Division III Poll, took a 9-1 lead in the early going. The Bruins also held a 15-5 advantage at the 12:16 mark, but Willamette cut the margin to 15-12 with a 7-0 run.
Willamette's run started with a layup by freshman Lamson and ended with steals and layups by Alex Zennan (Sr., G, Sammamish, WA/Eastlake HS) and Westermann.
Westermann was fouled on her layup and converted the free throw. The seven points were scored in a 31-second span ending with 11:13 remaining in the half.
The Bruins answered with an 8-0 run to claim a 23-12 edge with about eight minutes left in the period. Later, GFU was in front 34-17 at the 3:47 mark. WU scored the next five points, but George Fox ended the half with a 7-1 run to take a 41-23 lead into the break.
George Fox shot 46.7% from the field (14 of 30) in the first half. The Bruins also gained a 28-15 edge on the glass during the first 20 minutes.
Overall, GFU was 25 of 54 on field goals (46.3%). The Bruins made 32 of 46 free throws (69.6%). Meanwhile, WU hit 16 of 50 field goals (32.0%) and 12 of 24 free throws. GFU gained a 51-27 advantage on the boards and forced the Bearcats into 27 turnovers. The Bruins lost the ball 24 times.
Willamette will play at home on Saturday, Jan. 29 against the University of Puget Sound. Game time at Cone Field House is set for 6 p.m. (PST).
Kaileigh Westermann scored five points and grabbed six rebounds for Willamette.
