TACOMA – Pacific Lutheran rallied in the second half to take a 52-44 win over visiting Pacific University in a Northwest Conference women's basketball game played Friday night in Olson Gymnasium.
The Lutes are now 5-7 overall and 2-3 in the conference. Now on a two-game losing streak, Pacific is 9-4 overall and 2-3 in conference.
Pacific scored nine unanswered points at the start of the game, including a pair of three-point baskets by Alex Pfefferle, as PLU went the first 7 1/2 minutes without a point. The first half started slow for the Lutes with their first points not coming until 12:32 when Megan Abdo was fouled and came away with two free throws.
The Boxers led for most of the half with the exception being the 5:11 mark on Kara Sherman's shot from beyond the three-point line, which tied up the game at 16-16. Pacific soon reclaimed the lead with a three-point jumper by Kaila Johnson to bring the score back to 19-16, and it took a 22-18 edge into the halftime break. At that point, Pfefferle led the Boxers in points with seven points and Heather Hitch added four rebounds. Sherman led the Lutes with seven points.
The Lutes came out much stronger in the second half and began an offensive attack early. Abdo hit a shot from beyond the three-point line just over one minute into the period, which was quickly followed by three points from Samantha Potter. Pfefferle hit a pair at the foul line to push Pacific on top, 28-24, but Potter, Sherman and Katelyn Smith all made baskets as the Lutes tied the game at 30-30 with 13:47 to play.
About a minute later, Sarah Barnes scored on a layup to give the Lutes the lead for the first time in the game. The game took a lull midway, with only one point for the Lutes for almost four minutes.
The game was tied at 39-39 when Potter scored consecutive baskets to give her team a 43-39 advantage with 2:49 to play. Johnson hit two more at the line for Pacific, but Megan Abdo hit a twisting layup in the lane, followed by another Potter layup, as the Lutes built a 47-41 advantage with 1:40 on the clock.
Pfefferle scored twice at the foul line to make it a four-point game, but PLU pulled away in he end by hitting three or their final four attempts at the line.
Playing 33 total minutes, Potter finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Sherman and Abdo both added nine points and Chrissy Swope chimed in with nine rebounds. The Lutes shot 33 percent (19-for-58) from the field and 29 percent (4-for-14) from the three-point line.
Pfefferle led the Boxers with 16 points and Hitch added 11 points. Pacific University ended the game with a 25 percent (12-for-49) shooting accuracy from the field and 18 percent (3-for-17) from the three-point line. PLU led the game in rebounds with 45 for Pacific's 40. PLU also had 21 turnovers to Pacific's 22.
Pacific Lutheran returns to conference action in Olson Gym at 6 p.m. tomorrow when they face the Willamette Bearcats.
- PLU -