WALLA WALLA, Wash. – The Pacific University women's basketball team had their seven-game win streak snapped by the eighth-ranked team in the nation as Whitman escaped with the 57-47 win on Tuesday evening in the Sherwood Athletic Center.
It was a low-scoring affair in Eastern Washington as both teams posted season-lows in scoring. The two teams were unable to get going offensively, forcing both sides to slow the pace and make the most of each possession.
The Boxers (11-4, 5-1 NWC) suffered their first defeat in Northwest Conference play. Pacific couldn't seem to find a rhythm offensively and posted their lowest points tally (47) and field-goal percentage (34%) of the season. The Red and Black made just three of their 20 shots from three-point range as they were unable to make their open looks.
No. 8 Whitman (13-1, 5-0 NWC) also posted a season-low in points in what was an extremely defensive and slow-paced affair. The Boxer defense held the Blues to just 35.7% from the field while forcing 11 turnovers. The hosts were led by Kaylie McCracken who scored 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
Sydney Gray (Junior/Central Point, OR) was fantastic and earned her first double-double of the season. The junior poured in 12 points and snatched 11 boards while defending very well against Whitman's talented post players.
Brilie Kovaloff (Junior/Honolulu, HI) led the Boxers on the offensive end with 15 points on 6-of-14 shooting.
Rilee Price (Junior/Brea, CA) chipped in with nine points and knocked down one three-pointer.
How It Happened
Both teams struggled on the offensive end in the first quarter. Each team would commit five turnovers and shoot below 35% from the floor.
However,
Camy Aguinaldo (Senior/Honolulu, HI) got started early with a three-point play to get the Boxers on the board. Gray would follow by hitting a jumper from the free-throw line to even the score at 5-5. The hosts regained the lead before Kovaloff dropped a runner in the paint to tie things up yet again.
Kaylee-Brooke Manuel (Junior/Nanakuli, HI) found some space in the middle of the Blues' zone to score her first field goal attempt of the night. After a low-scoring quarter, Whitman would lead 10-9.
The Blues opened the second period on a 7-0 run to extend their lead. Pacific finally ended their scoring drought when Gray nailed a deep three-pointer from the wing to get the Boxers back on track. Price got her name on the scoresheet by coming off a screen and knocking down a 15-footer before Kovaloff would lay one in to bring Pacific within three points. At the three-minute mark, Price scored another basket with the shot-clock expiring but Whitman would rattle off six straight points to make the score 26-18. Kovaloff added one more bucket before the halftime whistle and the Boxers would trail 26-20 at the break.
Whitman scored to begin the second half but Kovaloff would respond with a three-point play to give the Boxers some momentum. Price drained a wide-open triple before Kovaloff made a layup in transition to get herself into double figures and bring Pacific within two. The Boxers tied the score at 30-30 when Gray finished a strong drive to the basket and she would later give Pacific their first lead of the game by hitting a three from the corner. Aguinaldo got back into the action by scooping in a layup giving the Boxers a 35-34 lead going into the final 10 minutes. Pacific's defense was excellent in the third quarter, holding the hosts to just eight points.
Kovaloff started the fourth quarter by drawing a foul and making two free throws make it a three-point advantage. Manuel would grab an offensive rebound put it back before Kovaloff poured in another bucket to extend the lead to five points and force a Whitman timeout with 7:48 remaining in the contest. Whitman would bring themselves within one point but Gray would answer with a left-handed layup.
The Blues regained the lead at the 2:31 mark and would make a three on their next possession to make it a five-point advantage. This was a part of Whitman's 13-3 run to close the game as Pacific was unable to close the gap and the eighth-ranked team in the nation escape with the victory despite the Boxers' best efforts.
By The Numbers
- Whitman won the rebounding battle 33-31.
- The contest featured five ties and two lead changes.
- Four Boxers (Kovaloff, Gray, Price, Aguinaldo) played over 30 minutes.
Up Next
The Boxers look to start a new win streak when they head to Tacoma, Wash. on Jan. 21 at 6 p.m. to take on Puget Sound.
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