by SPOKANE, Wash. – Freshman Zalissa Sanfo took over senior night with 19 points and 21 rebounds to set the program’s single-game record and lead Whitworth past George Fox 66-62 in the final home game of the season.
Whitworth (8-15, 5-9 NWC) evened up the season series with George Fox (5-16, 5-9 NWC) who came into the weekend on a three-game win streak. Sanfo posted double-doubles in both wins, she’s racked up eight now on the season.
The Pirates started four seniors on senior night, and Kimberly Dewey scored 19 in what could be her final game in the Fieldhouse. Alyssa Fitzgerald Tara Kaneshiro and Dawson Driggs added six, four, and two. Alyssa Wells and Ella Roberts led the Bruins with 15 and 13 points but both fouled out as George Fox’s comeback fell short down the stretch.
The Pirates were electric in the first quarter, hitting seven of their first 10 shots as they got out to a 17-3 lead. Dewey and Edwards kicked off the 10-0 run with consecutive three-point plays, and Sanfo capped the run with a pull up jumper. She had nine in the first half.
The Bruins leaned on Roberts as they put together a pair of 8-0 runs in the second quarter. Roberts buried a pair of jumpers as the Bruins cut Whitworth’s lead to 19-14, before knocking down another turnaround in the post to give George Fox its first lead of the night (29-28). Fitzgerald got to the bucket just before half however, and Whitworth led 30-29 at the break.
The Pirates managed to retain the lead throughout the entire second half. Sanfo and Ashlyn Neilsen came up with scores early in the third to fend off the Bruins’ who came within a point twice. Leading 38-37 Whitworth willed itself to a 9-0 run (fueled by four free throws) to take a double-digit lead into the fourth.
The Pirates shot just 2-9 from the field in the fourth but held off a Bruin comeback with 15 free throws on 18 attempts. Sanfo, Dewey, and Nielsen combined for 22-28 from the stripe
