PARKLAND - Pacific Lutheran dropped its sixth straight game to
close out its season, losing to No. 5-ranked George Fox, 60-41, in
Northwest Conference women's basketball action on Saturday night in
Olson Auditorium.
PLU (7-18 overall, 5-11 NWC) jumped out to a quick 6-2 lead at
the 16:41 mark of the first half on three-point baskets by Jordan Westering and Sarah Backstrom, but the Lutes were not able to score
again until 9:14 left in half. While the Lutes were unable to find
the mark the Bruins went on a 15-2 run led by 6-5 frosh center
Hannah Munger, who scored 12 of her game-high 15 points in the
first. Arianna Mohsenian also scored seven points and grabbed seven
rebounds for the Bruins in the first half. Westering led the Lutes
with five points as they trailed going into the break, 31-18.
The Bruins (23-2, 16-0 NWC) kept their first half momentum by
starting off the second with a quick steal by Lindsay Keener, who
passed to Elise Kuenzi for a layup in the first 10 seconds of the
half. George Fox stole the ball five straight times to open the
second half, and it finished the game with 18 steals. Pacific
Lutheran ended up with 20 total turnovers. Keisha Gordon led the
Bruins with seven steals.
The Bruins went on a 14-4 run to take a 47-30 with 9:51
remaining, shutting out any possibility of a comeback by the Lutes.
PLU managed to shoot 75 percent from the free throw line.
Unfortunately they only managed to get to the line four times in
the contest compared to George Fox converting 14 of its 17
attempts.
Three Bruins scored in double figures, Munger with 15, Kuenzi
with 10, and Gordon with 10. Senior forward Tracy Goehri
scored a team-high 12 points for the Lutes. Melissa Pixler, Ayla Mull and Meghan Dowling tied for PLU rebounding honors with seven
apiece. Goehri and Dowling, PLU's only seniors, were honored
following the game.
As the regular season came to close the No. 5 Bruins finished an
undefeated conference schedule for the second straight season and
will play Lewis & Clark in a NWC tournament semifinal on Feb.
25.
- PLU -
