WALLA WALLA, Wash. – The Pacific University women's basketball team reached their first Northwest Conference Championship game since 1996, but No. 6 Whitman would clinch the title and automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament after their 76-57 victory.
The Boxers conclude the 2021-22 season with an overall record of 19-8 and conference mark of 12-4. This was Pacific's best season since 1992 when they finished 11-1 in conference play.
Camy Aguinaldo (Senior/Honolulu, HI), the NWC Player of the Year, dropped 16 points in her final game wearing the Red and Black. She finished her spectacular career with 1,994 points, just six shy of the 2,000-point mark.
Brilie Kovaloff (Junior/Honolulu, HI) also finished in double-digits with 14 points on the night.
Pacific shot just 31.7% from the floor and made just one of their 13 attempts from beyond the arc. Whitman were led by Kaylie McCracken who poured in 24 points and the nationally-ranked Blues were extremely efficient, shooting 54.9% from the field and 60% from the three-point line.
How It Happened
Whitman came out firing in the early minutes, starting the contest on a 7-0 run. Aguinaldo ended the scoring drought with a step-back jumper to get Pacific on the board. The Boxers were just 3-of-12 in the first period and this would allow the Blues to take a 19-8 lead after the first 10 minutes.
The hosts quickly extended their lead when Pacific started the second quarter just 1-of-9. The Boxers finally regained some momentum when Aguinaldo finished a layup with some contact, eventually completing the three-point play. The point guard delivered back-to-back baskets but the Blues responded with a pair of threes to make it a 17-point advantage. Whitman would take a 39-25 lead going into the break.
The Boxers started 4-of-5 in the second half to cut the deficit to 10 points. The run was short-lived, however, as the Blues put together a 9-0 run to make the score 50-31 with just under seven minutes left in the third quarter. Pacific would suffer a scoring drought that lasted over three minutes and the Blues would take advantage by extending their lead to 23 points.
Pacific out-scored Whitman 17-14 in the final 10 minutes but the Blues would cruise the 76-57 victory.
The Boxers finished third in the NWC standings and will now await the decision from the NCAA selection committee about an at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament.
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