SPOKANE, Wash. -- Hannah Munger and Keisha Gordon combined for 59 points and 23 rebounds to help visiting George Fox hold on to a share of first place in the Northwest Conference women's basketball standings with a 78-71 overtime win at Whitworth on Saturday night in the Whitworth Fieldhouse.

The All-NWC pair helped the Bruins improve to 18-5 overall and 12-2 in the NWC and remain tied with Lewis & Clark atop the conference standings. The Pirates fell to 11-12 and 7-7 in the NWC. Whitworth is now tied with Whitman and Linfield for fourth place in the NWC. Four teams make the conference's post-season tournament.

Whitworth took it right at the larger Bruins from the start of the game. Kayla Johnson hit back to back jumpers to give the Pirates a 14-10 lead seven minutes into the game. Lexi Belcher scored five straight points to give Whitworth its largest lead of the game (29-21) with a minute to play in the half. But Arianna Mohsenian drained a three to get GFU back within 29-24 at halftime.

The Bruins kept the momentum going into the second half, going up 33-31 on a lay up by Munger three minutes into the half. George Fox extended the lead to 43-35 on a Gordon three-pointer with 14:11 to go and it appeared the Bruins were taking control of the game. But Belcher answered with a three-pointer and the Pirates fought back to retake a 51-49 lead on a three-point play by Hannah Ostic. There were six ties and five lead changes the rest of the second half and Whitworth forced overtime on Belcher's basket with eight seconds to play.

Belcher hit another three to open the overtime for Whitworth, but George Fox outscored the Pirates 12-2 the rest of the way. Munger scored six of the points for the Bruins.

Munger had 33 points, making 13-21 from the floor, and grabbed 12 boards. Gordon was 7-10 from the floor and 10-17 from the free throw line for 26 points to go along with 11 rebounds. Gordon also led the Bruins with five assists.

Belcher led the Pirates with 18 points and seven rebounds, while Taylor (LaMoreaux) Taylor added 16 points. Emily Guthrie scored 14 points and dished four assists.

Whitworth will play at Whitman on Tuesday night in a game that will go a long way in determining the final Northwest Conference playoff spot.

George Fox will go a long way to determining the fourth seed as well, playing at Linfield next Friday.