No. 5 Women’s Basketball Tops Linfield, Advances To NWC Final

WALLA WALLA, Wash. – Carly Martin scored a game-high 24 points which included a late-game haymaker to lift the No. 5 Whitman College women’s basketball team to a thrilling 65-55 win over Linfield in the semifinals of the Northwest Conference Tournament on Friday night at the Sherwood Center.

The Blues (25-1) will now square off against George Fox for the title on Saturday at 6:00 p.m.

In what was a tight game most of the way, the Blues found themselves trailing by a point with 5:54 to play and searching for offense, instant or otherwise. Whitman did not shoot it well from three for the game (23%), but Martin put the Blues on her back in that moment and nailed three straight triples. The haymaker brought the Sherwood Center to its feet and turned a one-point deficit into an eight-point lead with 2:33 to play.

Tana Hoekema and Allie Mead carried the load offensively for the Wildcats who couldn’t make up the deficit in the final two minutes. Hoekema posted 18 points and Mead added 14 points and six assists.

Linfield also felt the thorn of Korin Baker in its side who delivered a double double with 18 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Holly Morgan had a massive contribution as well off the bench, chipping in 14 points, five rebounds and four assists.

Whitman and George Fox bring history into their championship matchup. Most recently, the Bruins knocked off the Blues in this very same game played on the very same court in 2020. Whitman went on to earn an at large bid and advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
 

#GoWhitman

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