Clark hit a three-pointer 13 seconds into the game and the Bruins never trailed in the first half, building their largest lead to eight at 18-10 on a three by Leith with 10:25 left in the half. Leith, who had 32 points in her last outing against Neumann in the Grand Canyon Classic a week ago, had 11 at the break as the Bruins led 27-22.
Whitman got its first tie at 27-27 with 18:13 to play on a jumper by First Team All-NWC wing Kate Patneaude, but the Bruins regained the lead 14 seconds later on a jumper by Leith. From that point on, there were four more ties and seven lead changes. Patneaude hit from downtown with 2:16 left to give the Missionaries a 51-50 lead and Lizzy Washburn added a free throw at 1:41 for a two-point lead, but Kellie Thomas and Clark each hit a free throw as the Bruins tied it with 29 seconds left. Patneaude missed a jumper as time ran out, sending it into overtime.
The Bruins held the Missionaries without a field goal in the overtime. A pair of free throws by Thomas at 3:57 broke the tie, and Clark hit a pair for a 56-52 Bruin lead. A three-pointer by Leith, a jumper by Robin Taylor, and a final free throw by Leith iced the win for the Bruins over the defending conference co-champions, who were picked a close second in this year’s pre-season predictions.
Leith and Clark were the only Bruins in double figures in points. Clark’s rebound total, with 13 in the second half and overtime, was a career high, the highest for a Bruin in 11 years, and four short of the school record. Clark also had 4 steals as the Bruins forced 22 turnovers and made 15 steals.
Rueck, in his 9th season as the Bruins’ coach, saw his career record climb to 150-64. His .701 winning percentage is the best of any Bruin women’s coach, and he is 12 wins away from the record 162 in 12 seasons by Craig Taylor (1981-93).
Patneaude led the Missionaries with 13 points, while Megan Higgins had a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. George Fox held Whitman to a .308 shooting percentage (20-65) and to .111 (2-18) from three-point range, although the Bruins did not fare much better at .333 (19-57) from the field and .250 (4-16) from long distance.
George Fox is now 7-3 overall and Whitman is 5-5. The Bruins are at Whitworth College Saturday night while the Missionaries host Linfield College, both games at 6:00 p.m., followed by men’s games at 8:00 p.m.