PARKLAND – A three-point game early in the fourth quarter gave way to a 7-0 run by Pacific as the Boxers defeated Pacific Lutheran 62-53 in Northwest Conference women's basketball action Saturday evening at Names Family Court.
Playing without starting point guard Megan Abdo for the second straight game, the Lutes shot 43.3 percent in a close first half (13-of-30) that ended with Pacific holding a 32-31 lead. The second half saw that percentage fall to 26.7 percent (8-of-30), while PLU held Pacific to 31.8 percent shooting (7-22) in the final two quarters. For the game PLU made three more baskets than Pacific, but the Boxers made nine three-pointers and 17 free throws compared to three three-pointers and eight free throws for the Lutes.
"We're going to continue working on executing and finishing around the basket," PLU head coach Jennifer Childress said.
Madison Green-Hayward and Samantha Kelleigh tied for the team lead with 10 points apiece for the Lutes. Green-Hayward also grabbed three steals and four rebounds and made all four of her free throw attempts.
"Madison made scrappy plays and played good defense tonight," Childress said.
Karli McHone had a career night for the Boxers, scoring 17 of Pacific's first 25 points and finishing with 29 on 6-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc. She was the only Pacific player to reach double-figures in the game.
McHone and Kelleigh opened the game exchanging three-pointers, and a few minutes later the Lutes used baskets by Anna Hurd, Lacey Nicholson and Green-Hayward to take an 11-6 lead. McHone cut that lead to two with another three-pointer, and the Lutes took a 15-13 lead into the second quarter. Consecutive three-pointers by McHone midway through the second turned a two-point PLU lead into a four-point Pacific advantage, and the Boxers held a narrow lead the rest of the quarter.
After Pacific took a quick five-point lead early in the third period the Lutes used layups by Michaela Edgers, Nicholson and Green-Hayward to reclaim a 39-38 lead. By the end of the game the lead had changed 10 times with nine tie scores.
Pacific scored the final five points of the third quarter, but PLU got two back on Green-Hayward free throws early in the fourth. That was when the Boxers used a seven-point streak to go up 10 with just over two minutes remaining, holding off the Lute comeback effort with five free throws in the final 75 seconds.
Pacific Lutheran (6-9 overall, 2-4 NWC) heads back on the road next weekend, as the Lutes travel to eastern Washington to visit Whitworth Friday at 6 p.m. and Whitman Saturday at 4 p.m.
"We're looking forward to having Megan back next week for our trip to the Whits," Childress said.
