Lutes Set To Face Off With Northwest University
LUTES SET FOR NWC TUNE-UP: The Pacific Lutheran University women's basketball team squares off with Northwest University Tuesday night in the team's final tune-up before Northwest Conference play begins. Pacific Lutheran comes into Tuesday night's matchup with a 2-0 record on the season. The Lutes registered a season-opening 62-53 victory over visiting UC Santa Cruz and then followed up with another home win over St. Joseph's College by a score of 77-45. PLU's 2-0 start to the 2011-12 campaign marks the first time the Lutes have started a season with two straight wins since the 2006-07 season. Tuesday night's game at Olson Auditorium is scheduled for 6 p.m.
A LOOK AT THE EAGLES: The Northwest University Eagles enter Tuesday night's match up with a 2-5 record through the team's first seven games. Playing a mix of NAIA, NCAA Division II and NCAA Division III programs, the Eagles are surrendering over 75 points per game to opponents. The Lutes have dominated the Eagles in the 22-game series history. Dating back to the 1988-89 season, Pacific Lutheran has won 21 of 22 games over Northwest. The Eagles lone win in the series game during the 2004-05 season by way of a 63-61 decision.
NWC PLAY ON THE HORIZON: Following Tuesday night's game against Northwest, the Lutes must turn their attention to conference play as the NWC season opens this weekend. Friday night, PLU travels to Salem, Ore. to take on Willamette University. The next night, the Lutes head to Linfield College to wrap up their opening weekend of conference play.
PLU 77, ST. JOSEPH'S 45: Samantha Potter scored 16 points and added 13 rebounds as Pacific Lutheran rolled past visiting St. Joseph's College-Brooklyn, 77-45, in a non-conference women's basketball game played Friday night in Olson Auditorium. With the victory, PLU improves its season record to 2-0. St. Joseph's is now 0-4 this season. Potter grabbed 11 of her boards on the offensive end of the floor to lead PLU to a huge 62-38 rebounding advantage against the shorter Lady Bears. She also shot 7-for-11 from the field, most of them under the basket, as the Lutes took advantage of their inside dominance. The Lutes raced out to a 17-2 lead in the opening minutes before seeing the Lady Bears rally late in the first half to cut their deficit to 32-20 at the intermission. Potter had six points and four rebounds in only nine minutes of action at that point, and the Lutes turned to the sophomore post in the final half. She went inside for eight of her nine second half rebounds and also added 10 points as the hosts pulled away. Shelly Kilcup had 10 points and eight rebounds and Katelyn Smith added 10 points and seven rebounds for the Lutes, who finished the game with 19 assists on their 30 baskets. Austin Schorno had eight rebounds and a team-high five assists off the bench for the Lutes. None of the Lutes played more than 24 minutes, and all played at least nine minutes. Janine Doran had 13 points to lead the Lady Bears, who aldo got a team-best five rebounds from Ashja Hopkins. St. Joseph's shot just 24 percent on 14-for-57 accuracy from the field, including 1-for-17 from three-point range.
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