NEWBERG, Ore. – Despite outscoring home standing and 10th-ranked George Fox University in the second half, Whitman College's women's basketball team was unable to overcome a double-digit halftime deficit in a 77-63 Northwest Conference loss at the the Bruins' Wheeler Sports Center Friday evening. Heather Johns and Hailey Ann Maeda paced the Missionaries with 16 points apiece.

Whitman (8-6, 3-2 NWC) and George Fox (14-0, 5-0) traded the lead six times on each team's scoring possessions to start the game, but the Bruins' Nicole Blizzards 3-pointer erased a two-point deficit providing the home team with an 8-6 advantage on the final lead change of the night. Blizzards long-range shot kicked off a 10-0 run over three minutes of action.

Alysse Ketner finally halted the Fox run with a fast break layup for Whitman but the Bruins were able to extend the advantage to 21 points, eventually entering the halftime break with a 39-18 lead.

The Missionaries exited the intermission with increased determination and steadily cut into the deficit until a jumper by Maeda from in close completed an 8-0 string to bring Whitman within 13, at 53-40, with 10 minutes remaining.

The highly-ranked Bruins answered, though, and built their advantage back to 21 only to have the pesky M's battle back once again. The deficit was trimmed to 12 (75-63) late but there just wasn't enough time for Whitman to complete the come back.

Maeda and Johns played large roles in Whitman's 45-point second half, scoring the majority of their points over the final 20 minutes. Of Maeda's 16 points, 14 came in the second half while Johns poured in 10 of her total during the second-half rally. Ketner just missed crossing the double-digit plateau, finishing with nine points.

Fox was led by Justine Benner's game-high 26 points. Sammy Naluai added 15 and Lauren Godling's 14 points completed a double-double after she came down with a game-best 10 rebounds.

Whitman's trademark defense did come away with 18 steals, forced 23 turnovers, and eventually finished with 18 points off turnovers, but Fox's 44 points in the paint and 57-percent night from the floor (29-of-51) were too much to overcome.

The Westward weekend trip continues Saturday afternoon for Whitman with a trip to Forest Grove, Oregon, where the M's will square off with Pacific University in a 4 p.m. tip off.