After being held to a season-low five points to start the contest, the Pacific University women's basketball team outscored No. 8 (D3hoops) / No. 13 (WBCA) George Fox in each of the next three quarters en route to a 61-47 win on Tuesday night.
The Boxers (9-3, 3-0 NWC) left the floor jubilant and shouting how it was an all-around team effort in the win as four Boxers scored in double figures to lead Pacific to its third-straight conference win for the first time since 2015-16. The last time that Pacific started Northwest Conference play was 1991-92, which coincidentally that team was inducted into the Pacific University Athletic Hall of Fame in the fall.
The Bruins (9-3, 1-2 NWC) limited the Boxers to five points and 18.2% (2-for-11) shooting in the first 10 minutes. George Fox was held to 38.2% shooting for the final 30 minutes, including seven field goals in the final 20 minutes. Emily Horder scored a team-high 12 points to lead the Bruins, who committed 21 turnovers in the loss.
"That was a great team win," said Pacific head coach
Alecia Parker. "Four players scored in double digits (
Camy Aguinaldo – 15;
Rilee Price – 12;
Brilie Kovaloff – 12;
Courtney Carolan – 10), we got huge bench minutes, everyone in our program had a huge part of that win."
Pacific trailed for nearly the entire first half until Carolan hit back-to-back 3-pointers late in the second quarter that put the host Boxers ahead for the first time on the night at 23-21 with 1:46 left in the first half. The Bruins' Cassidy Posey briefly put the visitors back in front but a clutch jumper from Pacific reserve
Shelby Holman put Pacific ahead 25-24 at the halftime break. The Boxers have led or been tied at halftime in 10 of its 12 games.
The energized Boxers came out in the second half, shooting 50% (13-for-26) from the field and holding the Bruins to 28% (7-for-25) in the final 20 minutes. The lead went back and forth to start the third period until Pacific freshman
Sydney Gray made her only shot of the game – a 3 pointer with 3:42 left in the third quarter. The 3-pointer put the Boxers ahead 35-34 and for nearly the remainder of the game.
Pacific scored the final four points of the third quarter and the first four of the second quarter to sustain its lead and the momentum. A 3-point play by Price with 3:39 to go put the Boxers ahead by double digits for the remainder of the game en route to its first win over George Fox since February 8, 2003.
Next up for Pacific is a trip to Tacoma to face Puget Sound on Friday, January 7 at 8 p.m.
