THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Senior wing Keisha Gordon posted a double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds, leading the third-ranked George Fox University Bruins to a 63-51 win over the California Lutheran University Regals in the final round of the Posada Royale Thanksgiving Women's Basketball Classic Sunday afternoon here at Gilbert Arena.
In earning the win over Cal Lutheran, the Bruins improved to 4-0 on the season and gained a measure of revenge for their last meeting on Nov. 22, 2009, in Thousand Oaks when the Regals took a 54-48 win. That loss ended a 36-game winning streak by the Bruins which included their 32-0 record and NCAA Division III National Championship in 2008-09. Cal Lutheran saw its record fall to 2-2.
The Bruins got off to a good start when Megan Arnoldy hit a three-pointer from the top of the key for the first points of the game, but then they missed their next eight shots, allowing the Regals to forge ahead 6-3 on two baskets by Shana Moore and a jumper by Jazmyne Porter. George Fox momentarily regained the lead 13-12 on a free throw by Hannah Munger midway through the period, but a jumper by Channing Fleischmann and three by Porter gave CLU its largest lead of 17-13 with eight minutes to go.
A tip-in by Keisha Gordon with 6:16 to play ignited a 13-2 run by the Bruins over the next four minutes. Two free throws by Munger tied it, and Gordon's three gave the Bruins a 20-17 lead at 4:07. Following a rebound basket by the Regals' Rachel Heagy, Hayley Cusick nailed a three and Arianna Mohsenian added two free throws and a three-pointer to extend the George Fox lead to 28-19. The Regals ended the half with a 6-0 run, including a three by Chelsey Hastigan, to narrow the margin to 28-25 at the break.
Hastigan hit another three to open the second half, tying the game 28-28, and Heagy hit a short jumper in the lane to give the Regals a 30-28 lead with 15:48 left as the Bruins missed four shots and committed three turnovers in the opening four minutes. A basket by Breezy Rinehart-Young at the 15:24 mark got the Bruin on the board in the half, tying the game and ending an 11-0 Cal Lutheran run.
Over the next seven minutes, George Fox took leads of two to four points three times, only to have the Regals rally to tie it again each time. Two free throws and a layup by Carrie Myers gave the Bruins a six-point lead of 46-40 with 7:39 remaining. Cal Lutheran got back within two on a layup by Moore and two Hastigan free throws, but layups by Munger and Cusick and two charity tosses by Cusick made it 52-44 Bruins with 3:22 left. Fleischmann hit a three to give the Regals some hope, but Mohsenian answered at the other end with a three, Munger put back a missed shot, and Gordon drained a three to give the Bruins a clinching 60-47 lead with 1:05 left.
Gordon's big night for the Bruins, her second double-double of the season, moved her within one point of fifth place on the all-time scoring list at George Fox. She now has 1,340 points to 1,341 for Tammy Lewis (1985-89). Munger and Cusick chipped in with 11 points each. Mohsenian passed out three assists, Gordon had three steals, and Munger swapped away six Regal shots inside.
Moore collected 12 points and Hastigan 11 while Moore and Heagy had five rebounds apiece for the Regals, who were out-rebounded 35-25. Meaghan Goodenough handed out four assists and made five steals.
Gordon was voted the Classic MVP and Munger was named to the All-Tournament Team, as were Moore and Hastigan of Cal Lutheran, Kayla Johnson and Emily Guthrie of Whitworth University, and Kimi Takaoka of Chapman University.
NEXT: George Fox begins Northwest Conference play next weekend, visiting Whitman College Friday and Whitworth Sunday. Both games tip off at 6:00 p.m., followed by NWC men's games at 8:00 p.m. ... Cal Lutheran hits the road to play Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, next Sunday at 10:00 a.m. Pacific time (1:00 p.m. Eastern).