PORTLAND, Ore. – Keisha Gordon became the all-time George Fox University steals leader with 245 and the Bruins' defense posted a single-game record of 14 blocked shots as the Bruins cruised past the Concordia University-Portland Cavaliers 72-42 in non-conference women's basketball action Tuesday night here at the Cavalier Gym.
Gordon picked up seven steals in the game, lifting her past Linda Funderhide, who recorded 243 steals from 1987-91. Contributing to the new blocks record, which broke the old mark of 13, were Hannah Munger with eight, Breezy Rinehart-Young with three, Carrie Myers with two, and Megan Arnoldy with one.
George Fox, ranked third in the NCAA Division III, finished with a 9-0 record against competition outside the Northwest Conference, and is 11-0 overall. Concordia fell to 4-10.
With four different players scoring baskets and Munger blocking three shots in the first three minutes, the Bruins jumped out to a quick 8-0 lead. Malori Dixon hit a three-pointer at the 16:40 mark to get the Cavaliers on the board, but that was as close as the home team would get the entire game.
An 11-0 run featuring goals by five different players, including a three by Jami Roos, extended the George Fox lead to 26-9 with 11:25 left, and a short hook in the lane by Munger gave the Bruins their largest lead of the period at 30-11 with 6:05 remaining. An unusual four-point play (a trey and a free throw) by Rachel Scarpelli brought the Cavs back within 14 at 34-20 with two minutes left, but drives by Gordon and Munger enabled the Bruins to take a 38-22 halftime lead.
After starting the game 11-for-17 from the field, the Bruins ended the half with a .471 mark (16-34) while holding the Cavs to a .276 percentage (8-29). Munger led all scorers with 12 points and had six blocks, while Scarpelli paced the Cavaliers with seven points.
Both teams started cold in the second half, the Bruins hitting only two of their first eight shots and the Cavs only two of nine. George Fox maintained the lead between 15 and 18 points for over eight minutes before finally taking its first 20-point lead of 50-30 with 11:10 to play on a three from the left corner by Arnoldy.
The Bruins continued to pull away over the remaining minutes, with the largest lead being the final score, which came on a driving layup by Dacia Heckendorf with 22 ticks left.
George Fox finished with a .492 shooting percentage (29-59) while holding the Cavaliers to a .286 percentage (16-56), won the battle of the boards 46-35, and made 16 steals while forcing 29 Concordia turnovers.
Munger led all players with 25 points, hitting 11-15 from the floor, and nine rebounds, while Gordon scored 12. Roos finished with nine points, all on threes. Arianna Mohsenian passed out five assists and Gordon had four.
Scarpelli was the only Cavalier in double digits with 13 points and also had a team-high five rebounds and three steals. Five different Cavs had two assists apiece.
NEXT: George Fox returns to NWC play next Tuesday at Lewis & Clark College in a battle of nationally-ranked 11-0 teams. The Pioneers are ranked No. 12 in the nation … Concordia plays a Cascade Collegiate Conference game Thursday at Southern Oregon University at 5:30 p.m.