NEWBERG, Ore.  Emily Rommel posted single-game career highs in points and rebounds while two others hit for double figures as No. 18 Whitman rallied from a halftime deficit to take down host and 21st-ranked George Fox, 82-74, in Northwest Conference action Sunday afternoon at the Wheeler Sports Complex.

Rommel posted her third double-double of the season with a 20-point, 14-rebound effort that led all players in both categories. Chelsi Brewer knocked down four 3-pointers on her way to a 19-point day and Maegen Martin added 10 points, including a pair of key layins that helped propel the Blues (15-2, 6-2 NWC) to their win.

In a game that was expected to go down to perhaps the last possession, Sunday's contest was more a matter of stops and starts as both teams accounted for counter-punching runs throughout the top-25 match-up.

Whitman took the first turn at trying to run away with the game, albeit an early attempt, racing out to a 10-0 lead in the opening three minutes of the contest.

When George Fox (14-3, 6-2) was finally able to get on the scoreboard it opened the flood gates, turning that 10-point deficit into a 10-point lead at the end of the first quarter with a 23-3 run. The end of the quarter was capped by what amounted to a six-point play as the Bruins sank a trey while elsewhere on the floor Whitman was called for a foul off the ball. Possession therefore remained with Fox which rained home another 3-pointer in the dying seconds to lift its advantage into double-digits.

That momentum didn't make it past the early seconds of the second quarter, however, as a 16-4 run by Whitman tied the game at 29-29 with a Brewer trey finishing the deal.

The only thing one could expect at that point did indeed follow -- a quick turn of the tide as the Bruins scratched out their own 13-6 run to close out the half for a 42-35 lead, despite getting out scored by Whitman 22-19 in the quarter.

The halftime intermission failed to alter the see-saw action of the game with the Blues coming out of the break on a 10-5 streak to close within a bucket in less than four minutes.

At some point one of the teams had to finally find a way to sustain their momentum, didn't they? This turned out to be that time.

Like boxers who'd each gone toe-to-tow and withstood flurries from an opponent round after round, one of the two found a way to prolong its attack and Whitman was that fighter.

Fox got into foul trouble as the Blues were pulling even at 54-54 -- only the third tie of the game -- on a layin from Martin with 1:50 to play in the third. One minute later it was another layin from Martin pushing Whitman ahead by a point. The Blues out scored Fox 23-15 in the period and carried a 58-57 advantage into the final quarter.

Rommel opened the scoring in the fourth with a layin to extend the lead only to see Tavin Headings rain down a 3-pointer to pull her Bruins even at 60-60. The teams traded baskets on the ensuing possessions, setting up Martin for another key moment in her afternoon. Her layin with 6:44 to play lifted the Blues into a lead that set about to finally breaking the see-saw rhythm of the game.

Whitman never trailed over the remaining six minutes to finish off the victory and end a two-game losing streak.

Rommel's 14 boards led her team but nine other players pulled down at least one rebound to create a resounding 57-34 edge on the glass for Whitman. Of those 57 boards were 19 in the offensive end that led to 26 second-chance points. In comparison, Fox finished the day with 13 offensive rebounds and only nine second-chance points.

Sunday's win also moved the Blues into a second-place tie in the league standings with the Bruins, but ahead of Fox in tiebreaking procedures with the head-to-head victory.

Whitman will try to start another win streak, after opening the season with 14 consecutive victories, on Tuesday in Spokane, Washington, where it will take on league foe and host Whitworth University.