Kelsey Bumgarner, Whitworth Sports Information Intern

Click here for complete box score

NEWBERG, Ore. - Whitworth lost to seventh-ranked George Fox 77-46 to open the second half of Northwest Conference women’s basketball play on Friday night.

Kim Bluff

Dependent on their outside shooting, Whitworth (11-7 overall, 5-4 NWC) shot just 25% from behind the arc and only 28.1% from the field for the night. Kim Bluff (Jr., G, Cusick, Wash.) led the Pirates with 13 points and Alida Bower (Sr., F, Onalaska, Wash.) added 11 points. Tiffany Corigliano (Sr., C, Nine Mile Falls, Wash.) brought down six Pirate rebounds.

Kristen Shielee led the well-rounded attack by the Bruins with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Sage Indendi also had 16 points, Elise Kuenzi added 15 and Keisha Gordon contributed 13 points and six rebounds. George Fox (18-0, 9-0) shot 52.9% (9-17) from behind the three point line and 53.6% (30-56) from the field.

Whitworth stayed close to the Bruins early in the first half with Bower making a jumper to stay within one after three minutes of play. George Fox then went on a 10-2 run, led by a trey each for Kuenzi and B.B. Gardner. GFU continued to extend the lead until they were up 26-14 with 8:30 in the half. Bower and Heather Burke (Jr., G, Cheney, Wash.) each made a three to lead a short Whitworth run and get within five (28-23), but the Bruins kept control and the half ended on a jumper by Shielee 43-28.

Gordon opened the half with a quick jumper, and George Fox never looked back, extending the lead to 57-34 with 12:49 left to play. Led by the shooting of Bluff, Whitworth stayed within 20 until Carrie Myers and Gardner put five quick points on the board and two free throws by Gordon extended it to 68-44. Indendi scored the last two points with a couple of free throws and the game was over at 77-46.

Whitworth will continue Oregon play at Pacific on Saturday at 4 pm. George Fox will stay home to face Whitman.