Official Pacific Northwest Tournament Website
TACOMA, Wash. - The Pacific Lutheran University women's basketball team is hosting its annual Pacific Northwest Tournament this weekend, welcoming California Institute of Technology, Nichols College, and crosstown rival University of Puget Sound to Olson Gymnasium for the two day event featuring four total games. The Lutes will square off against Caltech on Saturday while facing Massachusetts-based Nichols on Sunday.
The Lutes (4-2, 1-1 Northwest Conference) return to Olson on a three game winning streak. The most recent of those wins came last Saturday against Northwest University, defeating the host Eagles 67-58. Junior
Emma Janousek had a big game, picking up four steals and six assists to compliment her 19 points scored. Sophomore
Madison Salisbury earned her fourth straight double-double scoring 20 points and adding 10 rebounds.
"We have really stepped up our defensive pressure the last couple of games which has been an emphasis in our practices over the past couple of weeks," said Salisbury. "We have also been playing really well together, playing to each others strengths. One of our main focuses is winning the rebounding battle every game and we look to continue doing this in order to maintain our win streak."
As the season continues it's becoming apparent that the Lutes are playing as an extremely tight knit group.
"My favorite part of being on the team is being able to compete with my best friends. One thing we enjoy doing besides playing basketball is having a weekly team bible study."
Salisbury and the Lutes hope their tight team bonds and tough defensive pressure will be enough to continue the squads win streak this weekend at home.
Tournament Schedule:
Saturday:
2 PM: Puget Sound vs Nichols
4 PM: Pacific Lutheran vs Caltech
Sunday:
2 PM: Puget Sound vs Caltech
4 PM: Pacific Lutheran vs Nichols
Seattle Children's: The Lutes are partnering with Seattle Children's Hospital to help raise gifts and money for families to use during the holidays. Please consider joining our cause by contributing new toys, art supplies, fleece blankets, or gift cards when attending the tournament.
About the Beavers: Caltech (4-3, 0-2 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) heads north having picked up a non-conference win over Saint Katherine University 73-51 on Dec. 4 behind a 25-point, 15-rebound effort from Elizabeth Eiden.
All four victories this season have come on the Beavers' home court. The squads lone blemish in Pasadena this season was a 61-56 setback to California Lutheran University in the SCIAC season opener on Nov. 28.
Eiden leads the team with 18.1 ppg and 10.4 rpg while Samantha D'Costa chips in 17.2 ppg and 10.6 ppg. Nika Haleftiras is the third Beaver averaging in double figures contributing 12.7 ppg to the cause.
About the Bison: Nichols (3-6, 1-2 Commonwealth Coast Conference) heads west looking to snap a three-game skid. The Massachusetts based squad opened CCC play with a nailbiting 51-50 win over Salve Regina University on Nov. 28 but has come up empty-handed all December, suffering defeats at the hands of Endicott College (60-49), Curry College (52-31), and Connecticut College (63-30).
Isabella Nerney is the Bisons' leading scorer, dropping 9.6 ppg while Jessica Larsh adds 8.3 ppg and 4.7 rpg. Mekaela Fithian-Giantonio drops 8.0 ppg while Rebecca Cleary is the squad's top rebounder, hauling in 5.8 rpg.
About the Loggers: Puget Sound (4-2, 1-1 NWC) heads across town having won three of its last four games. The Loggers have been idle since a 67-56 victory over Evergreen State College on Dec. 5, a game that saw UPS have four players finish in double figures.
The Loggers two losses have been by a combined three points, stumbling 57-55 to Trinity University in the second game of the season while having 10th-ranked George Fox University against the ropes on Dec. 1 before the Bruins escaped with the 63-62 win in Newberg, Oregon.
Elizabeth Prewitt is the Loggers' top scorer, averaging 18.0 ppg while also adding 5.4 rpg. Jamie Lange chips in 11.5 ppg and a team-best 8.5 rpg while Giavanna Sorn adds 10.7 ppg.
2017 Rewind: Last season the host Lutes emerged as the lone undefeated squad at the tournament, collecting wins over both Aurora University (43-39) and Benedictine University (59-42). UPS and Benedictine both finished with 1-1 records while Aurora went 0-2.
