Willamette closely matched with George Fox

NEWBERG, Ore. — Willamette fell to George Fox, 78-63, at the Wheeler Sports Center on Friday. George Fox secured the win by outscoring Willamette 22-11 in the third quarter, extending their lead and holding it through the final quarter.

Willamette opened the first quarter with a strong inside presence, scoring 10 points in the paint. Riley Walden contributed with a layup and an assist early in the game. Daisy Boling-Schmidt and Peyton Gardner added to the scoring efforts with key layups, keeping the game tied at multiple points.

Despite a solid defensive effort that included two steals, the Bearcats faced challenges as George Fox capitalized on their field goal attempts, particularly in the paint. Willamette managed to close the gap with a late jumper by Walden but trailed 19-13 at the end of the first quarter.

Willamette initiated the second quarter with a strong defensive presence, highlighted by Addie Hiler's steal at 9:30, which directly led to Gardner's jumper. Gardner continued to be a key contributor, scoring a fast-break 3-pointer at 7:27 to bring the score within one point. Despite an even scoring battle throughout the quarter, the Bearcats effectively capitalized on turnovers, turning them into five points, and maintained pace with George Fox.

In the latter half of the quarter, Williams added crucial points at the free-throw line, keeping Willamette competitive. However, George Fox managed to extend their lead through a series of successful 3-pointers and free throws. The quarter concluded with Willamette closing the gap slightly, ending with a tied quarter score of 21–21, resulting in a score of 40–34 in favor of George Fox.

The third quarter opened with George Fox maintaining momentum, quickly extending their lead. Willamette's Kaitlin Imai narrowed the gap with a jumper, but turnovers hindered further progress. Gardner and Walden contributed with key baskets, including Walden's 3-pointer, keeping the Bearcats within reach. However, George Fox capitalized on several opportunities, benefiting from fast-break points and a strong inside presence to pull away.

Despite efforts from Willamette, including a late jumper by Gabbie Wilson, the quarter concluded with George Fox extending their lead, closing the quarter with a 62–45 advantage.

Willamette began the fourth quarter making strategic plays, highlighted by Gardner's assist to Mattie Thompson for a layup at 8:06. The Bearcats capitalized on fast breaks and interior scoring, accumulating 14 points in the paint during the quarter. Defensive stops, including three steals, contributed to a dynamic effort on the floor.

As the quarter advanced, Willamette's bench added substantial contributions with 14 points, while maintaining pressure that resulted in six points off turnovers. Despite George Fox's attempts to maintain their lead through consistent scoring, the Bearcats managed to narrow the gap with key baskets from players like Alexis Dockter and Aasia Williams.

Willamette closed the quarter strong, cutting into the deficit with an 18-point quarter, ultimately finishing with a score of 63-78 against George Fox.

Looking ahead, the Bearcats will host Oregon Tech on Sunday, Dec. 14. The game is set for 2 p.m. in Salem, Oregon.