SEGUIN, Texas - Pacific Lutheran rallied from an early 21-4 deficit to take a lead in the second half, but eventually ran out of comebacks in dropping a 78-70 non-conference women's basketball game to host Texas Lutheran on Tuesday afternoon.
With their fourth straight defeat, the Lutes drop to 3-5 for the season. Texas Lutheran, meanwhile, improved its record to 2-7.
The Lutes struggled in the early going, falling behind 7-0 before scoring their first points on Jordan Westering's layup 2 1/2 minutes into the game. The Bulldogs eventually surged to a 21-4 lead less than seven minutes into the opening half as the Lutes missed eight of their first 10 shots while also turning the ball over six times. At the half, Texas Lutheran held a 41-26 lead.
The hosts maintained their double-digit lead through the first eight minutes of the second period, and in fact had a 52-38 advantage with 11:46 left in the game, when the Lutes went on a 21-1 spurt over the next 5 1/2 minutes to take a 59-53 lead. Mackenzie Bieker, a sophomore guard known more for her defense than offense, came off the bench to lead the surge with eight points, including a pair of three-point baskets. Her first three-point shot pulled the Lutes to within 10 points at 53-43, and the next one capped PLU's impressive run.
Later, after Texas Lutheran had regained the lead, Bieker hit another three-ball to put her team on top, 64-62, with 4:08 left. After that, however, the Lutes were unable to stop Tamisha Timpson and her Bulldogs teammates on the other end of the floor. With her team holding the lead inside the final minute, Texas Lutheran's Kim Hagan iced the game with 4-for-4 free throw accuracy.
Bieker led the Lutes with a career-high 17 points coming on 6-for-7 shooting from the field, including excellent 5-for-6 accuracy from long range. She was joined in double figures by frosh post Katelyn Smith with 12 points, junior guard Sara Backstrom with 10 points and frosh post Samantha Potter with 10 points.
The Lutes, who shot 47 percent (27-for-58) from the field, were whistled for 28 fouls and themselves went to the charity stripe only 12 times, making seven. Texas Lutheran, which had 15 total fouls, finished 29-for-40 from the free throw line. The Bulldogs shot 48 percent (23-for-48) from the field.
Timpson led her team with 24 points and 11 rebounds, while Hagan finished with 20 points, including 11-for-12 from the free throw line.
Pacific Lutheran returns to action tomorrow afternoon when it takes on Schreiner University in Kerrville, Tex.
- PLU -