WALLA WALLA - Melissa Pixler scored 16 points but it wasn't
enough as Pacific Lutheran dropped a 72-53 Northwest Conference
women's basketball game to host Whitman College on Friday night.
With the loss, the Lutes fall to 7-15 overall and 5-8 in the
conference, two games behind Whitworth (7-6), which currently
occupies the fourth-and-final NWC postseason tournament spot. PLU
had three games remaining, including tomorrow night's crucial
match-up with the Pirates in Spokane.
Whitman, 6-7 in the conference and 11-11 overall, scored the
game's first eight points, but the Lutes rallied back to within a
point at 17-16 on Meghan Dowling's layup with 10:21 left in the
half. The Missionaries used a 14-2 run in the final 5:30 of the
period to take a 42-28 lead at the intermission, and they stayed in
front the rest of the way.
Up by 14 points at halftime, Whitman steadily pulled away in the
second half, stretching its lead to 62-38 with just under eight
minutes left to play. The Lutes made a final push, cutting its
deficit to 64-52 with 3:14 remaining.
Mandy Wall scored 10 points and Tracy Goehri led the Lutes
with seven rebounds and five assists. Megan White scored 24 points
for the Missionaries.
- PLU -
