Three hit double figures as Boxers fall to ranked Blues
Box Score FOREST GROVE — Karli McHone led the Boxers with 22 points, while thee Pacific starters finished with double-digit points in the Boxers' 76-63 loss to No. 13/18 Whitman inside of the Stoller Center.
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The Boxers scored on the opening possession as
Nikki Gilbert (East Wenatchee, Wash.) scored less than 30 seconds into the game, but the Blues bounced back with four-straight points.
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A 3-pointer by
Sarah Curl (Portland, Ore.) gave Pacific its second lead of the night at 5:36 in the first quarter, before the two teams exchanged leads five times in the opening 10 minutes.
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The Boxers held the lead nearly a minute into the second quarter, but a pair of Whitman makes gave the Blues a three point advantage. McHone (Glenns Ferry, Idaho) hit a 3-pointer with 8:20 on the clock to tie the game at 16-16, but the Blues rattled off 11-straight points and never looked back.
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Whitman's lead reached 15 points before McHone scored the final five points of the half. The Blues took a 36-26 lead to halftime against the host Boxers.
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Pacific battled back in the third quarter, pulling within seven on a 3-pointer from Gilbert at 6:01, but the ranked visitors held off the Boxers over the final three minutes of the period to take a 54-41 lead into the break.
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Whitman pulled out to a 20-point, 63-43 lead, with 7:39 left in regulation before the Boxers cut the lead to single digits on a three-point play by Curl.
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Curl's free throw make at 4:23 pulled Pacific within nine of the Blues, until Whitman was able to walk away with a 13-point victory over the Boxers.
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McHone finished with 22 points, while Curl scored 17 and Gilbert notched 11. Curl led the Boxers with eight rebounds and three assists, while
Delaney Emerson (Portland, Ore.) led the roster with two steals.
Merrily Jones (Milwaukie, Ore. ) notched a game-high three blocked shots.
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Pacific returns to the Stoller Center on Saturday, with a 4 p.m. scheduled tipoff against the visiting Whitworth Pirates.
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