FOREST GROVE – It has become clear that the Pacific women's basketball team is much more relaxed shooting in their home gymnasium. Unfortunately, Whitman found the Stoller Center surroundings a little to comfy as well.
 
The Missionaries shot 52 percent from the field and missed only one free throw on the way to an 82-70 victory over the Boxers Friday night. With the win, Whitman opened up a two-game lead in the loss column over fourth place Puget Sound in the important race to not only qualify for the Northwest Conference Tournament, but avoid having to face unbeaten George Fox in the first round. The Missionaries improved to 9-4 in the NWC and 13-9 overall, with their only losses coming to the No.3-ranked Bruins and second-place Lewis & Clark, also a top ten team nationally. After a 3-7 start to the season, the Missionaries have now won 10 of their last 12
 
The Boxers (4-9, 11-10) had their second consecutive strong shooting performance, connecting on a season-best 53 percent from the field (26 for 49), but the Missionaries turned an advantage on the offensive glass and 16 forced turnovers into 17 extra shots on the way to their fifth consecutive win over Pacific.
 
Pacific's Paige Jensen (Jr., Bemidji, Minn.) led all scorers with a season-high 24 points, hitting 10 of 13 from the field and a perfect 4 for 4 at the free throw line. But the Boxers couldn't overcome Whitman's balanced attack, with four players scoring in double-figures and ten entering the scoring column.
 
All-NWC senior point guard Jenele Peterson overcame first half foul trouble to score 11 of her team-high 14 points in the second half, adding six assists and two steals. Mary Madden added 13 points and Kelly Peterson and Sarah Anderegg chipped in 12 points apiece for the Missionaries, who recorded the highest point total scored against a Boxer team since George Fox defeated Pacific 89-53 on Jan. 8, 2011. It was only the third time this season the Boxers had surrendered at least 70 points.
 
Pacific never led in the game, but never let Whitman run away either. Down 35-29 at halftime, the Boxers closed to within four points on two occasions and a three-point play by Jensen with 7:21 to play made it 61-56. But Mary Madden answered with a three-point play of her own, and following a missed shot by Erica Schultz (Sr., Medford, Ore.), Jenele Peterson drove to the hoop and scored on a short jumper, drawing a foul in the process. After converting a second consecutive three-point play, the Missionaries led 67-56 with 6:31 remaining in the game.
 
The Boxers continued to convert on the offensive end, hitting 14 of their 24 second half shots (.583), but Whitman always had an answer, maintaining at least a seven-point lead until the final horn while hitting all eight of its free throws in the final 20 minutes and three of its six 3-point shot attempts.
 
The Missionaries outrebounded Pacific 33-25 with a decided 16-8 advantage on the offensive glass, led by Meghan White's 11 boards, six of which came on the offensive end. White added eight points and two blocks, while Anna Forge contributed three blocks to go with six points. Whitman outscored Pacific 25-9 in points off turnovers, while turning the ball over just three times in the second half and 11 for the game, the second-lowest total by a Boxer opponent this season.
 
The Boxers continued to shoot well in the second game of their three-game homestand, connecting on over half of their 3-pointers (6 of 11) for the second straight game. Annette Highley (So., Juneau, Alaska) had her second straight strong game off the bench with nine points on 3 of 3 shooting from the field, including a three, while Kaila Johnson (Fr., McKinleyville, Calif.) was a perfect 3 for 3 from beyond the arc for the second consecutive game, finishing with 9 points. Jensen scored 20 second-half points, adding three blocks, three assists and six rebounds. Erica Colter (Jr., Kennewick, Wash.) chipped in seven points and four assists and Schultz added six points and six rebounds with three assists.
 
Pacific entertains Whitworth on Saturday night. The Pirates defeated Linfield 93-73 Friday night to remain a game and a half out of the playoff race in fifth place at 6-7 (10-12 overall), just one game behind fourth place Puget Sound (8-6, 12-11) in the loss column. The game tips off at 6 p.m. with live webcast coverage beginning at 5:45 p.m. on www.goboxers.com.