LOGGERS' SEASON ENDS IN NAILBITER
TACOMA, Wash. - Senior Laura Hirsh (Corvallis, Ore./Crescent Valley) scored 15 second-half points, including her 1000th career point, as the Puget Sound Loggers erased a 20-point lead by the George Fox Bruins but in the end, it was the Bruins who collected the victory, 72-66, in the Second Round of the 2008 NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship on Saturday night at Memorial Fieldhouse in Tacoma, Wash.
In the first half, the Bruins (25-4) could not miss as they built a 15-point lead going into halftime. George Fox shot 63.6% from the field in the first half, including five-of-eight (62.5%) from behind the arc. The Loggers (23-5) made just 36% of their attempts in the first period to head into the break down, 38-23.
In the second half, the Bruins continued to pour it on, holding a 20-point lead with 10:51 remaining. 60-40. Puget Sound then woke up and went on a 15-0 run to pull within five points with five minutes remaining in the game. Following a pair of George Fox free throws by Katy Campbell, Logger junior Chelsi Shaw (Metaline Falls, Wash./Wenatchee Valley CC) hit a three-pointer that got UPS within four. A Natasha Ludwig (Hilo, Hawaii/Waiakea) free throw brought the Loggers within three and following a few traded baskets, Hirsh drained a jumper in the paint that got the Loggers within one point, 67-66, with 1:38 remaining.
Unfortunately for Puget Sound, the comeback attempt ended there as George Fox hit five free throws in the final 90 seconds to seal the victory. With the win, the Bruins now face top-ranked Hope in the Sectional Semifinal. The site for that matchup will be announced by the NCAA on Sunday.
The Loggers were led in scoring by 21 from Marissa Cain (Tacoma, Wash./Highline CC). Hirsh finished with 17 on the night to finish her Logger career with 1,010 points. Sophomore guard Claire Ely (Walnut Creek, Calif./Northgate) added 10 in the loss. The Loggers shot 56.7% in the second half, prompting the strong comeback attempt.
The Bruins were led by 16 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds from Campbell, the Northwest Conference Player of the Year. Melissa Marek-Farris added 14 points, as did Tiffany Behary. The Bruins finished the game shooting 61.1% from both the field and from three-point range.
The Loggers finish the season with a record of 23-5, tied for the best season in school history with an .821 winning percentage. Puget Sound also finished the season 16-1 at home.
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