TACOMA, Wash. – What appeared to be a safe 18-point lead proved to be far from safe for Pacific Friday night as Pacific Lutheran roared back to take the lead with eight minutes to go and beat the Boxers 63-57 in both team's Northwest Conference women's basketball opener at Olson Auditorium.
Pacific (1-3, 0-1 NWC) roared out of the opening on fire, connecting on 55.6 percent from the field (15-27) and 6 of 8 from three-point range in the first half. The Boxers had eight points on the board before the Lutes could score, thanks in part to back-to-back three-pointers by Kristen Corrales (So., Waimanalo, Hawaii) and Kandice McArthur (Jr., Post Falls, Idaho).
The advantage became 10 points when Paige Jensen (So., Bemidji, Minn.) connected on the short jumper at the 14:25 mark, adding to a six minute, 16-2 Pacific run. McArthur punctuated the run with back-to-back treys, two of her four first half long ranger bombs and six of her 15 points. The last, coming with 9:52 to go, put the Boxers ahead 26-8.
It was at the halfway point that the Lutes (3-1, 1-0 NWC) found their shooting touch and began to work their way back into the game. Samantha Potter connected on her next possession, opening up a 19-7 run that brought PLU within six points, 33-27, with 3:30 to go. The Boxers scored six more points down the stretch to go into the halftime with a 39-29 lead.
Pacific maintained their double-digit lead until Shelly Kilcup's fastbreak jumper at the 15:19 mark sparked a 13-0 that gave the Lutes their first lead, 49-48, on a Jordan Westering jumper at the 7:28 mark. The two teams traded leads over the next five minutes until Sara Backstrom the lead for good at 57-55 with 2:46 to go. PLU went on to outscore Pacific 8-2 over the final three minutes to secure the win.
McArthur led the Boxers with a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds, connecting on 5 of 10 from the field, all on three-pointers. She also had six assists, one block and three steals. Corrales added 13 points and Jensen had 12 points and eight rebounds. The Boxers finished the game shooting 47.9 percent from the field (23-48) and 66.7 percent from three-point range (8-12).
Potter led PLU with 14 points on 7 of 13 from the field to go along with eight rebounds. Kilcup added 10 points.
Pacific returns to action on Saturday, facing Puget Sound in Tacoma. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.