Jan. 13 NWC Basketball Wrap (Stories provided by host SID)

Women:
At George Fox 70, Pacific 42

Newberg, Ore. - Amy Fitch scored a career-high 19 points and the George Fox University defense held Pacific University to single digits in points in the first half, carrying the Bruins to a 70-42 win over the visiting Boxers in a Northwest Conference women’s basketball game Tuesday night at Miller Gym in the Wheeler Sports Center.

George Fox never trailed, jumping out to a 6-0 lead on baskets by Kellie Thomas and Liz Clark around a pair of free throws by Fitch.  The Boxers got within three at 8-5 on a jumper by Tori Nelson with 12:48 left in the half, but the Bruins shut down the Boxers and outscored the visitors 24-4 the rest of the period, taking a 32-9 lead into the break.  Pacific hit only 3 of 28 shots for a 10.7 percent mark in the first 20 minutes. 

Although things improved somewhat for Pacific in the second half as the Boxers managed to hit 11 of 42 shots (26.2%), the Bruins were also hotter in the half, hitting 14 of 25 (56.0%).  Pacific never got closer than 19 points the rest of the way, and the Bruins led by as much as 31 three times, the earliest at 49-18 with 10:12 to play.

Fitch hit 7 of 10 shots, including a three, and 4 of 4 free throws for her game-high 19, while Thomas and Darby Cave chipped in with 10 apiece.  Clark and Cave had 8 rebounds each as the Bruins dominated on the boards 52-42.  Fitch also had a game-high 5 assists.

Nelson had 17 points, the only Boxer in double digits, while Katannya Kapeli and Sara Harsin were Pacific’s top rebounders with 5 each.  Kristine Callan had 5 steals.

George Fox improved to 7-4 overall and 1-2 in the conference, while Pacific slipped to 6-3 overall and 1-1 in league play.

The Bruins make their first conference road swing this weekend, visiting Lewis & Clark College Friday, while the Boxers go to Linfield College Friday.  Both games are at 6:00 p.m., followed by men’s games at 8:00 p.m.

Men:
Pacific 77, at George Fox 67

Newberg, Ore. - Making four times as many free throws as the home team, the visiting Pacific University Boxers sank 20 of 28 from the charity stripe, including 9 of 12 in the final 5 minutes, to hold off the George Fox University Bruins 77-67 in Northwest Conference men’s basketball Tuesday night at Miller Gym in the Wheeler Sports Center.

The first half was a tight one with 4 ties and 5 lead changes, Pacific eking out a 32-30 advantage at the intermission.  The Boxers’ Joe Van Domelen, last week’s NWC Player of the Week, took over in the second half, however, scoring 17 of his game-high 25 points to keep the Boxers in front. 

Pacific had 11-point leads three times in the second half, the last coming with 4:39 to play on a pair of free throws by Van Domelen that gave the Boxers a 70-59 advantage.  The Bruins began to foul in an effort to catch up, but the Boxers, defeating the Bruins for the 9th straight time, rose to the challenge at the line, and George Fox was able to get no closer than 6 points at any time thereafter.

The field goal totals were equal – 27 each – and the Bruins made 8 3-pointers to only 3 for the Boxers, but while Pacific was having a good time at the line, George Fox managed to make only 5 of 10, and therein lay the difference.  Both teams had good nights from the field, Pacific hitting 51.9% (27-52) and George Fox slightly under that at 49.1% (27-55).  George Fox controlled the boards 34-28 but made more turnovers, 17-10.

Mark Gayman led the home team with 18 points, and Scott Szalay and Aaron Schmick had 15 each.  Szalay had 7 rebounds, while Gayman and Brett Yeager had 6 assists each.

In addition to Van Domelen’s big game, Erin Gram scored 14 and Branden Kawazoe added 12.  B.J. Anderson led the Boxers with 7 rebounds and 4 steals, while Gram had 9 assists.

George Fox dropped its 5th in a row and fell to 3-8 overall and 0-3 in the conference, while Pacific climbed to 3-6 overall and 1-1 in the league.

Both teams are back in action Friday, the Bruins visiting Lewis & Clark College for their first NWC road game, and the Boxers going to Linfield College.  Both men’s games are at 8:00 p.m., following women’s games at 6:00 p.m.