REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Women's Basketball team (2-1) lost by a point against George Fox University (GFU) Monday evening inside Currier Gym as their late three-point attempt to win the game was blocked by the Bruins.
The Bulldogs had a very strong start to the game, finding themselves up by seven, 15-8, after eight minutes of play. During that stretch Teagan McIlroy (Phoenix, AZ) scored six points, Andrea Perkins (Seal Beach, CA) added five, and AJ Wick (Henderson, NV) converted on a pair of jumpers.
Despite the great start the Bruins finished the first quarter off on an 8-2 run cutting the lead to one after 10 minutes.
Following a scoring drought of more than three minutes McIlroy found Wick for a jumper in the paint for the first points of the second period. Leila Hosn (Seattle, WA) and Colbi Zorich (Woodinville, WA) each scored soon after, which extended the U of R lead to two possessions, 23-18.
After GFU tied the game at 25 Wick got another two points in the paint thanks to a McIlroy offensive rebound and Wick finding Zorich in the paint as Redlands took a two-point lead into the break, 29-27.
The third quarter was challenging for the Maroon and Grey offensively. The Bulldogs managed three points in the opening three minutes before being held to five points across the final seven finding themselves down five, 42-37.
After a few slow offensive quarters, both sides scored 20 plus points for the first time in the final ten minutes. The Bulldogs took their first lead at the 5:46 mark following a successful and-one from Wick.
The lead quickly ballooned to five, 55-50, after threes by Perkins and Alex Facelo (San Jose, CA).
Over the final 3:32, though, GFU scored 12 of the next 16 points putting UR down three, 62-59, with :15 seconds remaining.
After a pair of Bruin free throws Bulldog Head Coach Rich Murphy called a timeout and drew up a play that resulted in pass by Wick to a cutting McIlroy who got to the rim to make it a one-point game.
Then after a response timeout by GFU, they turned it over on the inbound's pass, which gave Redlands the ball trailing by one and seven seconds to work with.
Murphy took his final timeout and advanced the ball to the front court. The play resulted in a baseline drive and kick out to Perkins with just over a second on the clock. Perkins caught and shot a three from the left wing, but the Bruin defender closed quickly and got her fingertips on the shot, which popped it up allowing time to expire.
For the game the Bulldogs were competitive despite being outshot 53.1 percent to 37.9 percent and giving up 42 points in the paint. They made up ground, however, from deep and at the line where they outscored the Bruins by 13 points.
In the game there were five ties and five lead changes. Redlands finished with nine fastbreak points, eight points off turnovers and added 24 points in the paint. Wick finished with a team high 18 points on 7-of-17 shooting with three rebounds, four assists and a steal, Perkins added 11 points going 3-for-6 from deep and McIIroy posted a strong statline in 27 minutes of 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting, seven rebounds, five assists, two blocks and a steal.
Redlands gets just over a week off before beginning Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) play on Wednesday, December 3 at 7 p.m. inside Currier Gym against Chapman University.
