TACOMA, Wash. – Kelsey McKinnis and Jocelyn Riordan posted 20-point games to lead the University of Puget Sound women's basketball team to a 81-68 victory over Pacific Lutheran on Tuesday. Riordan and McKinnis combined for 33 second half points to lead the Loggers to their fifth consecutive victory.

"Great players bring it in big games and right now every game is the biggest game of the season for us," said head coach Loree Payne. "Jocelyn and Kelsey have really exploded into a consistent threat for us. They bring it every night."

The Loggers (18-4, 11-2 NWC) forced 20 PLU turnovers and converted those turnovers to 28 points while the Lutes (5-16, 3-10 NWC) scored just seven points off turnovers. Riordan led the Loggers with 27 points, giving her three consecutive games with at least 20 points. McKinnis added 20 points and a team-high six rebounds.

Both teams found their flow from the floor as the Loggers shot 45.3 percent to the Lutes' 44.1 percent. The Lutes also nailed 8-of-21 from three point range while the Loggers knocked down 6-of-17. Perhaps the most impressive numbers came from the Loggers at the line. They hit 27-of-29 free throw attempts, which proved to be crucial in pulling away from a pesky Lutes team that just wouldn't go away.

The lead changed nine times in the game and six times in the second half as the Lutes fought back from a 34-29 halftime deficit only to have the Loggers pull away down the stretch.

The Loggers took hold of first place in the NWC with the win. They will host Linfield at 6 p.m. on Friday in their regular season home-finale.