PARKLAND - George Fox found its sweet spot in the second half, outscoring host Pacific Lutheran by 19 points and earning a 69-46 Northwest Conference women's basketball win on Friday night in Olson Auditorium.

George Fox shot 56 percent in the first half, 54 percent in the second half and 55 percent overall in beating Pacific Lutheran for the 14th straight time. The Lutes stayed with the playoff-bound and reigning Division III national runner-up for a half, but paltry 18 percent shooting in the final period spelled their doom.

PLU is now 3-12 in conference and 6-17 overall. This loss puts the Lutes on a 10-game losing streak dating back to a Jan. 12 home victory over Willamette. With the win, George Fox is now 18-6 overall and 11-4 in the conference.

Megan Arnoldy of George Fox scored the first basket of the game, a layup coming at 18:49, after which George Fox would keep the lead for remainder of the contest. The Lutes continued to put pressure on the Bruins however, containing their deficit to a single point at multiple times in the half. 

George Fox expanded its lead toward the end of the half, leaving at halftime with a 29-25 advantage. PLU shot 29 percent (9-for-31) from the field in the first half, Samantha Potter leading the team with 12 points. With eight different players getting in the scoring column, Jami Roos led her team with seven first half points.

George Fox continued to play its efficient offense and dominated on the defensive end, limiting PLU to 18 percent shooting. A tricky layup by Potter just four minutes into the second half, however, tied up the score for the first time in the game at 33-33. George Fox took control shortly after, increasing its lead to 43-34 and holding the Lutes to just two points for over five minutes. George Fox ran away with the game toward the end of the half, leading by as many as 26 points. A buzzer beater three by PLU's Samantha Schubach ended the game 69-46 in George Fox's favor.

Potter led the Lutes with 19 points and 11 rebounds. The Lutes shot 23 percent (15-for-64) from the field and were 21 percent (3-for-14) from beyond the three-point arc. They had 34 rebounds compared to 44 for the Bruins, and they turned the ball over 15 times.

Jami Roos was George Fox's stand out player with 27 points and six rebounds.

The Lutes finish their season tomorrow hosting Lewis and Clark, with tipoff scheduled for 6 p.m. in Olson Auditorium.

- PLU -