PARKLAND - Pacific Lutheran found its first lead with just over seven minutes left in the game and the Lutes topped the visiting Pacific Boxers, 63-57, Friday in the Northwest Conference women's basketball opener for both teams.
The Lutes forced 33 Boxer turnovers, including 17 PLU steals, which proved to be the deciding factor as the game progressed.
Jordan Westering nailed the go-ahead jumper with 7:28 remaining, putting the Lutes ahead 49-48, and it was a roller coaster from there.
Paige Jensen answered with two points of her own on the next possession, putting the Boxers back on top, 50-49, but the excitement would continue,
The two teams traded the ball back and forth without scoring for the next three minutes until Pacific's Kandice McArther sank a three-pointer, extending the Boxers' lead to 53-49. Her shot came after two offensive rebounds by Brittney Anderson and Jensen.
The Lutes shot right back when Westering made a jumper from just outside the paint after a steal by Ayla Mull. Samantha Potter stole the ball 30 seconds later and converted it into two more PLU points, putting the Lutes back on top, 55-53.
PLU forced another Pacific turnover with 2:32 remaining, putting the ball in the hands of the Lutes with a 57-55 lead. The Lutes missed their next three shots in a row, but came away with offensive rebounds after all three attempts. Potter finally put the ball in the net from an assist by Sara Backstrom, putting the Lutes up, 59-55 with two minutes left.
Westering was sent to the line and hit two free throws with 1:21 remaining, giving the Lutes a 61-55 advantage.
Pacific was forced to intentionally foul Mull with 33 seconds left. Mull bounced her free throw attempt of the front of the rim, but hustled to the sideline and gathered her own rebound. She was fouled again during the play and sent to the charity stripe. She made her first of two free throws and provided PLU with a 62-57 lead.
Westering put the dagger in the Boxers with a final free throw, capping the 63-57 PLU comeback.
Pacific jumped to a substantial first-half lead after a 26-8 scoring run. McArther, who ended the first half with 12 points, helped the team spark the run by hitting four three-point shots and gathering six rebounds.
The Lutes responded after Potter put four consecutive points on the board, leading to a first-half PLU comeback. The Lutes pulled within 33-27 with three minutes remaining in the first half and ended the half trailing the Boxers, 39-29.
Potter led the Lutes in scoring with 14 points and eight rebounds. Shelly Kilcup also hit double digits for the Lutes with 10 points. Westering added nine points and five rebounds. Mackenzie Bieker provided off-the-bench spirit for the Lutes and recorded four steals and four rebounds. Backstrom had seven assists and Mull added five more as PLU had 21 assists on its 24 field goals.
McArther led both teams with 15 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. Kristin Corrales accumulated 13 points and five assists while Jensen had 12 points and eight rebounds. The Boxers had 18 assists on 23 field goals.
Pacific shot 56 percent in the first half but cooled off to 38 percent in the final 20 minutes when the scored only 18 points.
PLU shot 36.4 percent from the field compared to Pacific's 47.9 percent. The Lutes' largest lead during the entire game was six points.
PLU hosts George Fox tomorrow at 6 p.m. in Olson Gym to close out the Lutes' NWC opening weekend, and Pacific heads across town to take on the Puget Sound Loggers.
- PLU -
By Brendan Abshier
PLU sports information student assistant