McMinnville, Ore. – The 2026 Northwest Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament is officially underway following two thrilling semifinal games. In the first matchup of the evening, No. 2 seed Whitman College defeated No. 3 Puget Sound University, 69-56. Later, the George Fox University Bruins earned their spot in the championship game with a 59-57 victory over top-seeded Linfield University.
Whitman built an early advantage and maintained control throughout its 69-56 win over Puget Sound. The Blues were led by Briana Andrade, who finished with a game-high 23 points and eight rebounds. Emma Lena Baker recorded a double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds, providing a steady inside presence, while Kaella Peters added nine points. Whitman shot efficiently and limited second-chance opportunities on the defensive end.
Puget Sound made a push but could not close the gap. Carmen Cruz paced the Loggers with 14 points, and Mele Sake and Grace Lee each added eight. Despite narrowing the margin in the second half, Puget Sound struggled to string together consistent stops, allowing Whitman to hold on for the 13-point victory.
In the second semifinal, George Fox held off Linfield 59-57. The Bruins maintained a slim lead for much of the second half, led by senior Hanne Hopkins, who scored a game-high 26 points on 9-of-14 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds. Kylie Ritter and Tara Ushiro each contributed 14 points, helping George Fox secure the two-point win.
Linfield countered with a strong offensive performance from Allie Mead, who led her team with 20 points, including three three-pointers. Skylar Willey recorded a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds, while Eve Burke added 12 points and multiple key defensive plays. Despite late pressure and several ties in the final minutes, the Wildcats fell just short in a close finish at Ted Wilson Gymnasium.
Whitman (19-7) will face George Fox (14-11) for the second consecutive year in the championship game on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. PST.