Boxers Hold Early Lead To Secure Victory
Box Score
FOREST GROVE – The Pacific women's basketball squad played a competitive game, holding their early lead to secure a 65-60 victory over Whitworth on Friday evening at the Stoller Center.
“Tonight's game was a very competitive game between two very good teams,” said head coach
Sharon Rissmiller. “I'm proud of the effort by everyone on our team.”
The Boxers knocked off a Whitworth squad who received five votes in the D3hoops.com Top 25 this week. The Boxers outrebounded the Pirates 44-32 and also forced 16 turnovers. Pacific shot 36.4 percent from the field (20 of 55) and was 5 of 13 from beyond the arc. The Boxers were 90.9 percent from the free throw line, missing just two free throws.
Kaila Johnson (So., McKinleyville, Ore.) opened the first half for the Boxers, sinking a jumper.
Olivia Cook (So., Beaverton, Ore.) increased the Boxer lead to five at the 14:56 mark. The Pirates came back within one with 12 minutes to go in the first half after a Katara Belton-Sharp jumper. But the Boxers would go on a 9-0 run for the four minutes.
The Pirates broke even with the Boxers with five minutes left to play in the first half after a foul by
Anuhea Wall (So., Kealakekua, Hawaii) and two made free throws by Whitworth. The Boxers went on to take a seven point lead after two made free throws by
Paige Jensen (Sr., Bemidji, Minn.), a three-pointer from
Alex Pfefferle (Jr., Twin Falls, Idaho) and two more made free throws from
Heather Hitch (Sr., Enumclaw, Wash.). After a three-pointer from Emily Guthrie, the Boxers headed into halftime only up by two, 29-27.
The Pirates tied the game up at 29-29 after opening the second with a jumper. Hitch responded, scoring the next four Boxers points, along with a jumper from Johnson. The Boxers took a seven-point lead at 15:18 after a three-pointer from
Erica Colter (Sr., Kennewick, Wash.). The Pirates pulled back within three, 38-35, with 14 minutes left to play.
Another three from Pfefferle put the Boxers up by eight, 45-37, at 11:14. The Boxers continued to keep the lead with under 10 minutes to play in regulation. The Pirates came within one point of the Boxers with 1:45 to go after a foul by Pfefferle. And a made free throw shot by Whitworth's Emily Travis.
Colter put the Boxers up by four after a three-point shot with 1:26 left, but Kayla Johnson answered for the Pirates with a layup. Hitch would sink a lay-up for the Boxers with 47 seconds left before the last minute became all free throws from
Kaila Johnson. The Pirates drained a three with five seconds left, trying to gain another possession, but after a foul and two Johnson free throws, the Boxers secured the victory.
Hitch led the Boxers with 14 points, making 5 of 11 from the field and 4 of 4 from the free throw line. Jensen collected her fifth double-double of the season with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Jensen was perfect from the free throw line, connecting on 6 of 6 and also collected three steals. Colter was 3 of 5, adding 9 points, while Pfefferle scored 10 and Johnson added 13.
The Boxers improve to 9-2 overall and 2-1 in Northwest Conference play. They will play host tomorrow, Jan. 5, to the Whitman Missionaries. Tip off will start at 4 p.m.
