PARKLAND - Trailing Linfield by a single point at halftime, Pacific Lutheran shot just 23 percent in the second half and dropped a 59-48 Northwest Conference women's basketball game to the visiting Wildcats on Friday night in Olson Auditorium.
Linfield improved its overall record to 9-10 and its conference mark to 3-7, at the same time leapfrogging PLU in the NWC standings. The Lutes are now 5-13 overall and 2-7 in the conference.
The two teams played the initial 20 minutes on nearly even terms with two ties and 11 lead changes. Linfield led by as many as eight points, 23-15, on a pair of Kaely Maltman free throws with 8:38 left, only to see the hosts respond with 13 unanswered points to go ahead 28-23 with 3 1/2 minutes left in the period. PLU sophomore post Samantha scored eight of her game-high 19 points during the surge.
The seesaw first half ended with the 'Cats taking a 33-32 lead after a Gretchen Owens three-point basket with 35 second on the clock.
In the final 20 minutes, the Lutes went ice cold from the field, shooting just 7-for-30, including 2-for-11 from beyond the three-point arc. Linfield wasn't a lot better with 9-for-23 accuracy, but it did outscore the Lutes 26-16 in the final half to pull away.
Maltman hit the first of two free throws with 11:13 left to put her team ahead to stay at 42-41. Linfield's largest lead came with the final score.
Potter put together her eighth double-double of the season, adding 11 rebounds to her 19 points. She was the only PLU player to score in double figures, though Katelyn Smith tied for game-high rebounding honors with 12. The Lutes shot 34 percent (20-for-59), including 17 percent (3-for-18) from beyond the three-point line.
For the Wildcats, NWC leading scorer Gretchen Owens had 18 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and four steals while playing all 40 minutes. Maltman had 15 points and 10 boards for the 'Cats, who shots 41 percent (22-for-54) for the game.
Linfield had 44 rebounds to 37 for PLU.
The Lutes return to conference action at 6 p.m. Saturday when they host the winless Willamette Bearcats.
- PLU -