PARKLAND - Visiting Northwest University used a 22-4 run over a 12-minute period in the middle of the game Tuesday night to pull away to an 81-58 non-conference women's basketball victory over Pacific Lutheran in Olson Auditorium.
The Eagles, who improved to 3-4 this season, held a one-point lead with a little more than six minutes to play in the first half, and were able to increase that margin to 19 points about six minutes into the final period.
The Lutes, 2-1 this season, led twice in the early going, the last time at 6-5 on Katelyn Smith's jumper in the lane about 2 1/2 minutes into the contest. Once the Eagles took the lead at 7-6 on a pair of Carol Howard free throws with 17:09 left in the half, they never again trailed.
PLU cut its deficit to 28-27 on Mackenzie Bieker's jump shot with 6:17 left, but Northwest closed the half on a 15-4 run, led by Emily Drivstuen with five points, to take a 43-31 lead at the break.
In the second half, the Eagles kept the Lutes off the scoreboard for more than six minutes while scoring eight points. When Samantha Potter hit the second of two free throws, the Lutes were behind by a 50-32 score, and the Eagles pulled away after that. They led by as many at 27 points before setting for the 23-point victory.
Jessalyn Jackson had a big game for the Eagles with 24 points, 13 rebounds and seven blocked shots. Howard added 17 points, Drivstuen had 14 and Ebany Herd added 10 for the winners. Domi Mendezona had six assists and Herd added five more. Northwest shot 41 percent from the field (28-for-68) and an impressive 80 percent from the foul line (20-for-25).
Samantha Potter recorded her second straight double-double for the Lutes with 17 points and 15 rebounds, including eight on the offensive glass. Mackenzie Bieker scored 12 points and Shelly Kilcup hit a trio of three-point baskets on the way to 11 points. Smith finished in the double-figure scoring column with 10 points.
PLU shot just 32 percent from the field (24-for-75) and got to the free throw line just six times, making five of those.
The Lutes return to action at 7 p.m. next Thursday, Dec. 8, when they host the Saint Martin's University Saints in Olson Auditorium.
- PLU -