The Pioneer women's basketball season ended Wednesday night with a 76-71 (box score) loss at the #18 George Fox Bruins. After trailing by as many as 15 in the second half, Allison Farr tied the game with a three-pointer to send it to overtime.

George Fox took control of the game midway through the first half. They took a two-point lead, building it to an 25-16 advantage. After the Pioneers cut the nine-point lead down to five, 25-20 on a layup by Allison Farr (senior, Rocklin, Calif.), the Bruins went on a 10-1 run to hold a 35-21 lead. They went into the break up 36-23.

The Bruins added to their lead in the second half, leading 44-29 with just over 15 minutes left in the game. The Pioneers ramped up their defense, keeping the Bruins off the scoreboard for almost four minutes while the Pioneer offense scored ten points, eight of them by Crystal Castle (senior, Rocklin, Calif.) to make it a 44-39 game with 11:14 remaining. The Pioneers pulled within four, 46-42, on a three by Kim Kittell (sophomore, Tillamook, Ore.).

With six minutes remaining in the game, the Pioneers were down by eight, 54-46. Shawna Castle (senior, Rocklin, Calif.) hit a jumper. After George Fox missed on their possession, the Pioneers got the defensive board. The Pioneers fought for an offensive rebound after a missed Pioneer three-pointer, with Talerra Rich (sophomore, Los Alamos, N.M.) coming up with the ball, passing it to Shawna Castle for a layup to cut the lead to four, 54-50. After a George Fox turnover, Kim Kittell hit a jumper to make it a two point game, 54-52 with 4:36 remaining.

George Fox built back up a six point lead with 2:26 remaining, but the Pioneers would not go away. A layup by Kelly Vega (sophomore, Beaverton, Ore.) cut the deficit to four. After another George Fox turnover, Allison Farr drove toward the hoop, getting fouled on a made-layup. After hitting her free throw, the Pioneers trailed by just one, 63-62 with 1:14 remaining. 

Free throws put the Bruins up by four, 66-62, with 38 seconds remaining. Kelly Vega hit a three to make it a one-point game with 24 second remaining. After an immediate Pioneer foul, Fox made two more free throws to put the Pioneers down 68-65. Allison Farr pulled up for a three at the top of the arc, shooting over a defender, but getting nothing but net to tie the game 68-68 with 12 seconds remaining. With Kim Kittell playing tight defense on the George Fox ball handler, the Bruins could not get off a shot, sending the game to overtime.

The Bruins caught their breath and found their stride in the extra period, hitting the first jump shot and making the Pioneers play catch up for four of the extra five minutes. The Pioneers were within three, 74-71, after a Kittell layup with 51 seconds remaining, but they failed to make another basket, eventually falling 76-71 and getting eliminated from the Conference tournament.

Crystal Castle scored 19 points with 5 rebounds. Allison Farr scored 16 points with six rebounds. Kim Kittell scored 10 points with 5 assists and four steals.

The Pioneer women's team saw its first post-season action since Lewis & Clark went from NAIA to NCAA III. The women finished the season with a 14-11 mark and third place in the NWC.

George Fox advances to the NWC Tournament Championship game Friday night in Tacoma against Puget Sound. The winner will earn the Conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.