The PLU women's basketball team completed its weekend sweep at
home Saturday night in Olson Auditorium as it defeated Pacific
(Ore.), 70-53, one night after beating Linfield. Jordan Westering
led all scorers with 21 points for the Lutes.
Pacific (6-11, NWC 3-7) kept things close to start off the game
until Westering drained back-to-back three pointers,
sparking a 13-0 run by the Lutes and giving the hosts a 22-11
lead halfway through the period. The Lutes (7-12, NWC 5-5) never
trailed the Boxers again. Westering shot a perfect 3-for-3 from
three-point range in the first half, and Melissa Pixler scored 10
of her 12 points in the first period. PLU headed into halftime
leading the Boxers, 43-24, as the Lutes went on a 14-3 run to close
out the half.
Julianne Erbe recorded a double-double for the Boxers, scoring
14 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in the game, but the Lutes kept
her in check during the second half as she managed to score just
two of her points after the break.
The Lutes shot 67 percent from the three-point line on 10-of-15
shooting and led by as many as 21 in the second half. PLU shot 71
percent at the foul line while Pacific struggled from the charity
stripe, shooting 48 percent. The Boxers also had their
problems from the field, making just 20-of-55 attempts for a
36 percent mark.
Westering hit all five of her long-range shots on her way to
game-high scoring honors. Sara Backstrom scored 15 points in
addition to Pixler's 12 points in the victory.
The rebounds were almost equal as the Lutes grabbed 40 compared
to Pacific's 37. Meghan Dowling grabbed nine rebounds to lead the
Lutes.
PLU will return to conference action against Puget Sound at 6
p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 2, in Olson Auditorium.
- PLU -
