Feb. 24 NWC Women’s Basketball Wrap (Stories provided by host SID)

At Whitman 58, Whitworth 51

Walla Walla, Wash. – In a record breaking game for the Whitman women's basketball team, the Missionaries downed the Pirates 58-51 in Walla Walla, Wash. The 18th win for the Missionaries (18-6, 10-5) sets a new school record for wins in a season, eclipsing the previous mark of 17 by both the 1991-92 and 1992-93 teams. The Pirates fall to 18-6 overall, 10-5 in conference.

With the win Whitman also reclaims sole possession of second place in the Northwest Conference, still trailing Pacific Lutheran by half a game.

Sophomore guard Laura Vertatschitsch set the tone early for the Missionaries by hitting a three-pointer, and then a medium range jumper to start the contest. Vertatschitsch and first-year guard Katie Patneaude combined for the first 13 Whitman points. The Pirates kept pace, however, with their All-American forward Tiffany Speer’s hot shooting of her own. Whitman would push the lead to eight (24-16) at the seven minute mark on two Shea Morrissey free-throws, but by halftime the lead was cut to just a single point.

The Pirates captured their first lead of the contest 31-30 early in the second half. A jumper by Anna Stephenson with 12:49, however, put Whitman back on top for good. Sophomore forward Lizzy Washburn saved seven of her 10 points for the final 10 minutes of the contest, and the Missionaries hit nine of 10 free throws down the stretch to seal the Pirates fate.

Vertatschitsch and Washburn paced Whitman with 14 and 10 points respectively. Senior Denise Kirstein led the Missionaries in rebounds and assists, pulling down six boards and dishing out four dimes. Whitman shot 52 percent from the field in the first half before cooling off to 45 percent for the game. Perhaps more importantly, the Whitman defense held Speer to just 14 points on the night, all of which came in the first half. Dani Bielec finished with 15 points for the Pirates, and Sarah Shogren chipped in with 10.

Whitman will play its final game of the regular season at 6 p.m. on Saturday, hosting George Fox. Whitworth hosts the Bruins on Friday.

Pacific 61, at Willamette 54

Salem, Ore. -- The Pacific Boxers handed Willamette its 14th consecutive loss 61-54 Tuesday night in Cone Field House.

The Bearcats, 0-14 NWC and 4-20 all, have spent all of 2004 winless. They saw their last win against Cascade on December 30th.

The Bearcats shot 29% and had 34 rebounds to the Boxers 58. For three point shots the Bearcats were at 38% to the boxers 26%.

In the second half the Bearcats pulled ahead by 5 to garner their first lead of the night after a 3 pointer by Jammie Muth.

For the Boxers DeeDee Arnall was the only player in double digits going 12-18 field goals, 4-8 3 point shots for a total of 28 points on the night.

The Bearcats saw 3 players in double digits with Simmie Muth leading 4-16, 3-8 to total 13 points. DeAnna Lund and Megan Scheelar finished the night with 12 points apiece.

Linfield 72, at Lewis & Clark 69

Portland, Ore. -- The Lewis & Clark Pioneers brought their "A" game to Pamplin tonight, playing tough against Linfield, but came up just shy of victory, falling 72-69.

The Pioneers played a tight game. They took advantage of their freethrows, only missing one shot from the stripe all night, won the war of turnovers and steals, and blocked three shots. Their defense kept the sure-handed Wildcat's shooting percentage below 34% from the field. In the end, the Pioneers just needed one more big stop to take the lead. They never got it.

Krystle Mortimore never took a seat in the game, leading her Pioneers on the offensive side, calling the plays and putting up 23 points. Mariana Gordon had a career-high 18 points. Quiana Washington also had a career high eight points and a team high six rebounds (also a career high for Washington).

For Linfield, Brandi Loring led the team in scoring with 20. Kendra Victor and Monica Schwing each had 12 rebounds.

With the loss, the Pioneers fall to 2-13 in conference play. Linfield improves to 6-8.

Jan. 23
At St. Martin’s 84, George Fox 79

Lacey, Wash. -- In a non-conference women’s basketball game that was rescheduled from Jan. 3 due to snow and ice in the Pacific Northwest, the visiting George Fox University Bruins dropped an 84-79 decision to the NCAA Division II St. Martin’s College Lady Saints Monday night at the St. Martin’s Pavilion.

After the Saints’ Stephanie Colbo hit a jumper for the first points of the game, the Bruins scored the next 8 points for an 8-2 lead with 17:17 left, the largest edge they would hold.  St. Martin’s responded, however, with a 10-3 run over the next three minutes to regain the lead, and the Saints led 37-32 at the break.

George Fox bounced back with a 9-2 spurt to start the second half, taking a two-point lead, 41-39, on a 3-pointer by Liz Clark with 17:24 left..  The Saints answered with a 20-3 run of their own over the next seven minutes to go up by 15 at 59-44 on a free throw by Whitney Golob with 10:54 to play.  The Bruins got no closer than the final score on a 3-pointer by Kim Leith at the buzzer.

Leith led the Bruins with 23 points, tying her career high, while Darby Cave added 15 and Clark had 13.  Cave’s 8 rebounds led the Bruins to a 35-31 advantage on the boards.  Amy Fitch had 5 assists.

For the Saints, Julia Eisentrout scored 22 points, Colbo finished with 20, Beth Layton added 18, and Golob had 11.  Eisentrout paced the Saints with 8 rebounds and 5 steals, while Layton had 7 assists.

Both teams are now 13-10 on the season.

The Bruins conclude their season this weekend with two Northwest Conference games, visiting Whitworth College on Friday (Feb. 27) and Whitman College on Saturday.