The Pacific Lutheran women's basketball team led the entire game
as it defeated the Linfield Wildcats (4-14, NWC 2-7) for the
30th consecutive time, 55-40, Friday night in Olson
Auditorium.
Lutes senior Meghan Dowling recorded her
third double-double this season, scoring 15 points and
grabbing 10 rebounds, both team highs for the Lutes.
PLU (6-12, NWC 4-5) led from the opening tipoff as it shut down
the Wildcats, allowing them only 10 points in the first half and
leading the 'Cats by double digits for most of the contest.
The Lutes went on an early 7-0 run to open up the game while
Linfield scored its first points of the game at the 13:30 mark of
the first half. PLU recorded 10 assists and 25 first half rebounds
to pull away from Linfield early.
The Lutes went on an 18-6 run with 11 minutes left in the half
as Melissa Pixler led the team with seven first half points
and Sara Backstrom had three of her game-high six assists. The
Lutes capped off the first half with a three-point basket from
junior guard Jordan Westering, taking a 30-10 lead into the locker
room at the break.
Kelsey Forrest had a team-high 17 points for Linfield, but that
would be its only consistent source of offense as Linfield shot
just 14 percent from the field in the first half and was able to
connect on just 2-of-21 shooting from the three-point line for the
entire game.
The second half of the game became a back-and-forth battle as
the Lutes led by 20, and at one point by as many as 25 points, but
Linfield was able to cut the deficit to 15 after seven minutes into
the half. Midway through the second period the Lutes went on
a nine-point run to take away any chance that Linfield had at a
comeback. Dowling scored 11 of her team-high points in the second
half and the Lutes never looked back.
PLU had three scores in double figures, Dowling with 15, Pixler
with 11 and Backstrom with 10.
The Lutes will take on Pacific (Ore.) at home at 6 p.m.
Saturday.
- PLU -
