Women's Basketball: George Fox 56, Linfield 47

Katy Campbell’s Career-High 26 Lead Bruins by Wildcats.

George Fox's Katy Campbell Salem-News.com Sports

McMINNVILLE, Ore. - Katy Campbell scored a career-high 26 points, 16 in the second half, as the 18th-ranked George Fox University Bruins pulled away from Linfield College for their seventh straight win, a 56-47 decision over the scrappy Wildcats, in a Northwest Conference women’s basketball game Saturday evening here at Ted Wilson Gym.

The first half was closely contested with six ties, five lead changes, and neither team holding more than a four-point lead through the first 14 minutes. George Fox ran off seven unanswered points on a three-pointer and layup by Campbell and two free throws by Melissa Marek-Farris to take a 23-17 lead with 5:58 left in the half, but went scoreless the rest of the period, allowing the Wildcats to catch up. A free throw by Casey Stepan, a three by Brianna Reichelt, and a jumper by Stephanie Fennimore brought Linfield into a 23-23 deadlock with 2:39 remaining, but neither team could score again before the break.

Inside players Campbell with 10 points and Marek-Farris with nine led the Bruins at the half, but the George Fox guards struggled, hitting only one of 12 shots. Reichelt had six on a pair of threes to pace the Wildcats.

After three more ties early in the second half, a fast break layup by Kaleigha Ramey, a rebound basket by Campbell, a three-pointer by Mandee Spotts, and a drive by Campbell gave George Fox its largest lead of nine points at 41-32 with 10 minutes left. Kate Stadeli snapped the streak with a layup, but baskets by Spotts and Campbell and two Campbell free throws gave the Bruins a 13-point lead of 47-34 with 7:07 to go.

The Wildcats scratched back with a three-pointer and short jumper by Brihtani Lassiter and a layup by Emily Shoemaker to make it 47-41 with 4:13 remaining. The Bruins responded, however, with two free throws by Marek-Farris, a rebound basket by Campbell, and a jumper by Tiffany Behary as the shot clock sounded to rebuild a double-digit lead of 53-42 with 1:22 to go, effectively sealing the hard-fought win.

Campbell hit 9-14 from the field, including a three-pointer, and 7-9 from the line en route to her all-time best, and notched her fifth double-double of the season and 12th of her career with 10 rebounds, leading the Bruins to a 40-27 advantage on the boards. Marek-Farris finished with 13 points and blocked three shots. Behary passed out three assists. The Bruins hit .550 (11-20) in the second half to finish with a .436 percentage (20-46) for the game.

Lassiter was the only Wildcat in double figures with 15 points, while Stepan had a team-high six rebounds and Stedali blocked three shots. The Wildcats were held to a. 315 shooting percentage (17-54) by the Bruins, who lead the nation in scoring defense (41.2 ppg) and are 20th in field goal percentage defense (.320). Linfield also committed 17 fouls to only five by the Bruins.

George Fox (12-1, NWC 4-0) hosts Lewis & Clark College Friday at 6:00 p.m. Linfield (7-6, NWC 0-4) hosts Willamette University Tuesday at 6:00 PM. Both games will precede NWC men’s games at 8:00 PM.

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