FOREST GROVE, Ore. – Pacific Lutheran made almost two-thirds of its shots while building a 20-point halftime lead, and the Lutes sailed to a 63-46 Northwest Conference women's basketball victory over Pacific Saturday evening at the Stoller Center.

With the win, Pacific Lutheran improves to 6-9 overall and 2-4 in conference play. Pacific falls to 4-10 overall and 0-6 in the NWC. The Lutes return home next weekend to host Linfield on Jan. 24 and Willamette on Jan. 25, with tipoff set for 6 p.m. both nights.

Samantha Potter tallied a game-high 18 points to go with six rebounds and five assists. Katelyn Smith finished with nine points and seven rebounds, and Kara Sherman added 10 points. Olivia Mayorga-Overtone posted a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds to lead Pacific.

Pacific Lutheran put the game away early with a dominant first-half performance. The Lutes shot 64.0 percent (16-of-25) in the opening period and added seven points on all seven free throw attempts. Meanwhile, Pacific shot 24.2 percent (8-of-33) during that same stretch as PLU built a 41-21 halftime lead.

Olivia Cook hit a layup right after the opening tip to put the home team on top 2-0, but it was all PLU from that point on. Sherman tied it up with a layup to spark an eight-point PLU run, and a few minutes later a Sarah Barnes jumper pushed the Lutes up double-figures at 15-4.

Pacific Lutheran pushed its lead to as many as 23 points in the first half and stretched it to 24 points twice in the second half. Pacific pulled as close as 13 points back with six minutes remaining in the game, but the Lutes held off any Boxer comeback attempt for the 17-point win.