WALLA WALLA, Wash.- The Pacific University women's basketball dropped a closely contested championship game on Saturday night to Whitman.
 
The Blues were able to earn the 66-60 win behind very efficient second and third quarters in which they shot 63% and 61% respectively from the field. They were able to work the ball inside scoring over half their points in the paint.
 
Top Performers
 

• Brilie Kovaloff led all scorers with a career-high 33 points on 10-18 shooting including a perfect 3-3 from long range.
• Rilee Price was the only other Boxer to reach double-digits with 12 points as well as five rebounds.
• Sydney Gray went 5-6 from the charity stripe on the way to seven points.

 
How It Happened
 
Both teams brought a high-level of defense to open the contest. At the 7:30 mark left in the opening quarter the Blues held a 5-2 lead. The three-point lead would be the largest lead either side would have in the opening quarter. Over the course of the quarter, there was six lead changes as the Boxers took a 14-12 lead to the quarter break.
 
The second quarter was another slow start on the offensive end for both sides as the first basket scored was not registered until 8:25 remained before halftime. Gray would convert a pair of free throws with 7:13 remaining to gain an 18-17 lead. Whitman responded with a 7-0 run to establish a 24-18 lead over the next two minutes. The Boxers responded with their own 6-0 run to tie the game before the hosts would take a 29-28 lead to the locker room.
 
The Blues and Boxers would trade buckets to open the second half. Gray would again convert another pair pf free throw with 6:15 remaining to tie the game at 37 apiece. Whitman would open up a five-point lead with back-to-back jumpers. The Boxers closed the lead to one before Whitman closed out the quarter with back-to-back baskets to take a 48-43 lead to the final quarter.
 
A pair of Kovaloff free throws with 8:43 remaining reduced the Whitman lead to a one possession game. The next possession down the floor the Blues would convert a three-pointer to take a 51-45 lead. Multiple times over the final seven minutes, the Boxers closed their deficit but was never able to fully reclaim the lead. The Blues closed out the game with a pair of free throws to earn the 66-60 win and the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
 
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