PARKLAND - Visiting Evergreen State used a 17-0 run in the second half to get back into the game and carried that momentum through to the end Saturday night in beating Pacific Lutheran, 70-66, in a non-conference women's basketball game played at Olson Auditorium.

The host Lutes (3-4) shot 48 percent in the first half in building a 37-26 lead at the break, and they made it 45-31 on Sara Backstrom's layup with 16:52 to play in the game.

The Geoducks (3-8) suddenly woke up by scoring 17 unanswered points, capped by Shavon Tate's three-pointer from the left corner, to take a 48-45 advantage wtih 11:12 on the clock. PLU missed seven straight shots and also turned the ball over four times before Backstrom ended the scoring drought with a three-pointer with 10:54 to play, tying the game at 48-48.

Evergreen responded with a 6-0 scoring run, including four points from Juliana Soles, to quickly regain the lead. The Lutes were able to tie the game at 60-60 on Mahlet Tingley's free throw with 2:36 left, only to have the visitors rebuild a six-point lead that they nursed until the final buzzer.

After shooting just 31 percent in the first half, Evergreen shot 58 percent in the second half on the way to 43 percent (25-for-58) marksmanship for the game. The Lutes shots just 37 percent in the second half and also finished at 43 percent (24-for-56) for the game.

LaTrina Woods scored 27 points and added three assists and three steals for Evergreen, while Danielle Swain had a huge second half to finish the game with 11 points and a game-high 12 rebounds off the bench. The Geoducks collected 15 steals, four by Swain, and they also enjoyed a 42-36 edge in rebounding.

Jordan Westering was 5-for-7 from three-point land on the way to a game-high 18 points for the Lutes. Samantha Potter had 13 points and nine rebounds, Backstrom netted 15 points, while Shelly Kilcup added 10 points. Tingley and Backstrom both finished the game with five assists for PLU.

Prior to Christmas, the Lutes head to Texas for games at Texas Lutheran on Monday and Schreiner on Tuesday.

- PLU -