PARKLAND - Pacific Lutheran scored 12 of the game's final 16
points to defeat Whitman, 58-52, in a Northwest Conference women's
basketball game played Friday night in Olson Auditorium.
The Lutes (4-10 overall, 2-3 conference) trailed 48-46 after
Kelly Peterson knocked down a pair of free throws for Whitman with
3:35 remaining in the contest. On their next trip down the floor,
the Lutes got a three-point basket from Sara Backstrom to take a
49-48 margin, setting them off on their strong finish.
Meghan Dowling followed Backstrom's trey with a layup, and with
1:32 remaining Melissa Pixler took a backdoor lob from Backstrom
and hit a layup to give PLU a 53-48 advantage. After Hilary White
scored a layup with 1:14 left to cut Whitman's deficit to 53-50,
Jordan Westering hit a pair of free throws for the Lutes, followed
by Peterson's basket with 31 seconds left. Pixler added a jumper
and Dowling hit one of two free throws to close out the scoring.
The Lutes took an 18-11 lead with seven minutes remaining in
theopening half, but Whitman used a 7-0 run, capped by Dawna
Mello's jumper, to get right back into the game. PLU eventually
took a 23-20 lead into halftime.
Whitman actually led for the majority of the second half before
the Lutes waged their late rally.
Backstrom led four Pacific Lutheran in double figures with 15
points, including a trio of three-point field goals. Pixler added
13 points on 6-for-10 shooting, Westering scored 11 points,
including a perfect 8-for-8 at the foul line, and Tracy Goehri
scored 10 points. Westering paced the Lutes with eight rebounds as
PLU won that battle, 32-27.
The Lutes shot 43 percent (20-for-47) from the field and 39
percent (5-for-13) from three-point range.
White scored 16 points and Peterson added 15 for the
Missionaries, who shot 40 percent (18-for-45) from the field.
Whitman struggled from beyond the three-point line, converting just
19 percent (3-for-16) of their attempts.
Both teams return to Northwest Conference action at 6 p.m.
Saturday, Whitman playing at Puget Sound and the Lutes hosting the
Whitworth Pirates in Olson Auditorium.
- PLU -
