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McMINNVILLE, Ore. — The Whitman College women’s basketball team was not about to wait for March to start playing tournament basketball. The Blues walked into Ted Wilson Gymnasium on Friday night and walked out with a trophy, grinding past George Fox 67–51 to capture their fourth Northwest Conference Tournament title in the last five years and punch yet another ticket to the NCAA Tournament.
This one came with history attached. It marked the first time since 2017 that Whitman has cut down the NWC tournament nets on the road, the same season the Blues roared all the way to the Elite 8. Now, with another banner secured away from home, the echoes of that deep run are impossible to ignore.
For three quarters, Whitman methodically turned a tight, defensive slugfest into a cushion, outscoring the Bruins 35–22 in the middle periods to flip a 9–8 first-quarter deficit into a 43–34 lead heading to the fourth. The Blues’ balance was the difference: they shot 45.8 percent from the field, 50 percent from three, and hammered George Fox on the glass 37–25 while piling up 15 second-chance points to the Bruins’ two.
George Fox made its push late, trimming an 11-point margin to single digits behind a relentless night from forward Hanne Hopkins, who poured in 16 points and grabbed 4 rebounds, and a flurry from guard Sophia Hardy. But every time the Bruins threatened, Whitman had an answer—whether it was a composed trip to the free throw line, a timely stop, or a dagger three.
Down the stretch, Whitman’s veterans slammed the door. Emma Lena Baker was unstoppable in big moments, finishing with a team-high 19 points on 7-for-15 shooting while attacking the paint and the stripe, and Morgan Montgomery added 10 points and nine combined free-throw/field-goal makes, constantly putting pressure on the Bruins’ defense. Holly Morgan’s toughness (8 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals) and Briana Andrade’s all-around impact (8 points, 9 rebounds) helped Whitman dominate the margins, as the Blues turned 13 George Fox turnovers into 13 points and ran out for nine fast-break points.
The fourth quarter felt like every possession mattered, and the Blues played like a team that has been here before. When the Bruins cut the lead to 45–41 early in the period, Whitman responded with a ruthless 15–7 surge fueled by Baker’s paint attacks, a pair of Peters threes and Morgan’s poise at the line, pushing the margin to double digits. By the time the clock ticked under a minute, Whitman’s bench was already bouncing, waiting for the horn that would officially send them dancing.
As the final buzzer sounded, players embraced each other near midcourt while the small but loud Whitman section made its presence known as it had throughout the game. The net came down, the trophy was raised, and the Blues took a moment to soak in what they had just done: win another conference tournament, do it on the road, and write a new chapter that rhymes with 2017.
Now, the focus shifts to the NCAA Tournament. The Association will unveil its field of 64 with a live selection show scheduled for Monday, March 2 at 11:30 a.m. PT (2:30 p.m. ET)
#GoWhitman
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