The Pioneer women's basketball team fell 75-70 (box score) to the
Pacific Boxers in the Northwest Conference opener Wednesday night
in Forest Grove. Allison Farr scored 17 points to lead the
Pioneers. Newcomer Kelly Vega scored 15.
It was a game of catch-up for the Pioneers. The Boxers took an
11-point lead, 22-11, with eight minutes remaining in the first
half. After a time out, the Pioneers went on an 14-0 run to take a
25-22 lead, with Allison Farr (senior, Lakeport, Calif.) accounting
for six points and Crystal Castle (senior, Rocklin, Calif.) putting
up five. Pacific edged back ahead, going on a 9-0 run of their own
to lead 31-25 at the break.
Pacific built on their six-point halftime lead, leading by 13,
57-45, midway through the second half. The Pioneers mounted another
furious rally. With just under four minutes to play and trailing by
ten, the Pioneers pulled within four, 69-65, on an and-one layup by
Shawna Castle (senior, Rocklin, Calif.) with 2:23 on the clock.
Pacific took time off the clock, working the shot clock to its
limit, and hitting a basket to put it back to a four-point
advantage. The Boxers held on for the 75-70 victory.
Allison Farr had a double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds.
It was the third double-double of her career, and her first since
the 2004-05 season. Crystal Castle posted her fourth double-double
of the season with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Kelly Vega
(sophomore, Beaverton, Ore.), in her third game as a Pioneer,
scored 15 points, going 4-4 from the field and adding five
freethrows.
The Pioneers are back in action Saturday evening when they host
the Pacific Lutheran Lutes at the Pamplin Sports Center. Tipoff is
at 6pm. The game will be carried live on the internet on
sportsjuice.com.