Women's Basketball Aims to Pull Even With No. 18 George Fox

Walla Walla, Wash. - The No. 18 ranked George Fox Bruins invade the Sherwood Athletic Center Friday night, clinging to a half-game lead over the Missionaries in the Northwest Conference race. The Bruins are currently tied for first with No. 11 ranked Lewis & Clark at 10 - 2 with Whitman on their heels at 9 - 3.

The 6 pm matchup serves as the Missionaries final regular season home game and a chance to edge closer to securing a post-season home game. The top two teams in the NWC regular season standings host a first round game in the conference tournament.  The Whits finish out the season on the road next Friday and Saturday at Willamette and Linfield.

George Fox (17 - 4 overall) beat a road weary Whitman club in the first meeting, 50 - 38, on January 12.The game concluded a four-game road swing for the Whits who could only muster a 21.6 % field goal percentage. Not one Missionary finished in double-figures and the thirty-eight points was a season low.

Whitman is coming off a solid win over Whitworth Tuesday night at home, 81 - 62, a game in which both post Meghan White (Jr., Huntington Beach, CA) and guard Tiffani Traver (Jr., Oregon City, OR) posted career-highs - Traver in points (21) and White in rebounds (19).

Whitman (17 - 4) has won six of their last seven and has only suffered one home loss (Lewis & Clark) this season. The Bruins, winners of 8 of their last 9, only two losses on the season have come at the hands of L & C. The Missionaries and the Bruins are ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in conference field goal percentage and, not coincidentally, assists. Whitman is shooting 43.8 % from the field, George Fox 41.2 %.

The Whits are dishing out 14.8 assists per contest, the Bruins 14.4. On the defensive end George Fox is ranked first in scoring, holding their opponents to just 51.2 points. The Missionaries rank second at 52.9. Whitman leads the NWC in rebounding margin (+10.7), George Fox ranks second at (+6.5).

Friday night's game is a "Whiteout Night" where fans are encouraged to wear white shirts or tops. It will also be the final chance for fans to donate money towards the Student-Athlete Advisory Committees' fundraising drive for the Special Olympics.

Live video streaming: http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/whitman.portal#

Live stats: http://www.whitman.edu/whitman-athletics/live-stats

Contact:

Andrew Holt

Whitman Sports Information Director

holtac@whitman.edu

509.527.5902