By Jake Bilyeu, PLU Sports Information Student Writer
PARKLAND – The Pacific Lutheran women's basketball team finished up the 2015-16 season Saturday night, as the Lutes honored seniors Megan Abdo, Sarah Barnes and Michaela Edgers prior to their final games and closed out the year falling 83-63 to Whitworth.
"It's a little surreal to see them go," PLU head coach Jennifer Childress said of the three seniors. "Since I've been here, they've been here with me, and we've grown up and persevered together."
Pacific Lutheran wrapped up the 2015-16 season with a 9-16 overall record and a 5-11 Northwest Conference mark, the program's most wins since the 2008-09 season. Edgers led PLU with 11 points Saturday on a perfect 5-of-5 shooting performance, while Barnes and Samantha Kelleigh each scored 10.
Whitworth came out fast in the first quarter, but despite falling behind 15-6 early, the Lutes pulled within two as Kelleigh hit a 3-pointer to make it 21-19 with 2:19 to play in the period. The Pirates scored two more buckets to finish the quarter up 25-19. The Lute defense tightened up in the second quarter, but the offense was unable to capitalize. While the Pirates were held to just 15 points for the quarter, the Lutes didn't score until five minutes had passed, when Kristin Sturdivan hit a 3-pointer to cut into the Pirates lead. Edgers provided the Lutes with a late boost heading into halftime, scoring on an and-one layup to end the half with the Lutes trailing 40-25. Childress believes the Lutes were experiencing the effects of Friday's lengthy contest.
"I think the triple overtime took out our energy," Childress said. "Whitworth was battling for playoff seeding, and our legs were heavy."
The Lutes offense got a second wind after halftime. Barnes opened the half with a layup, and the Lutes got to the free throw line 14 times in the third quarter, making 13 of those attempts. Abdo added a 3-pointer near the end of the quarter, as the Lutes scored 22 points to finish the quarter down 66-47.
PLU maintained its offensive production in the fourth quarter, getting to the free throw line 10 more times as the finished the game 20-of-26 from the line (76.9 percent). Coach Childress subbed out her seniors for one final time, as some reserves got a chance to show the Lute fans a glimpse of the program's future. The game closed out a 3-3 stretch in the final six games of the season that saw the Lutes take third-ranked George Fox to the final buzzer, sweep a conference road trip and go to triple overtime against Whitman.
"I'm proud of the second half of our season; we showed incredible improvement," Childress said. "We're losing three very versatile players, but with our core returning finishing as strong as we did gave us more momentum."
