TACOMA, Wash. - The Pacific Lutheran University women's basketball team proved too much for Lewis & Clark College to handle in the second half, finishing the game on a 33-10 run to pull away for the 59-35 win in a Northwest Conference tilt on Friday night inside Olson Gymnasium.

The visiting Pioneers (2-12, 1-4 NWC) claimed the game's opening bucket before the Lutes' (10-3, 3-2 NWC) seized control, hitting the next seven and enjoying a 12-6 advantage after 10 minutes of play. Pacific Lutheran's lead ballooned to 12 on an Anna Hurd layup with 4:41 remaining in the second quarter but L&C battled back, whittling the PLU to just 25-20 at the halftime intermission.

PLU's lead evaporated to just a single point just over two minutes into the third quarter but the Lutes more than answered the call with Madison Salisbury scoring the next three points to give PLU a four-point cushion. The lead continued to grow, hitting double digits on a Megan Drake layup with 2:14 left in the third and swelling to as many as 26 in the fourth as the home side ended the final 17 minutes by outscoring the Pios 33-10.

"We really struggled finishing our shots during the first half," said Head Coach Jennifer Childress. "Execution of the plays went well, there just seemed to be a lid on the basket. It was exciting to see the desire in our defense in the second half. Those turnovers proved a catalyst for our offense."

Anna Hurd paced the Lutes with 14 points and nine rebounds, hitting six of her 10 attempts from the floor. Megan Drake came off the bench and added 13 in just 13 minutes of play while Emma Janousek added 12 points, five assists, and five steals.

"Megan was the spark we really needed off the bench. We all know what she's capable of, and tonight she really showed it."

Pacific Lutheran enjoyed an 18-8 edge in second chance points and a 21-8 advantage in bench production while playing lock down perimeter defense, limiting Lewis & Clark to shooting a minuscule 7.1 percent (one-for-14) from beyond the arc. The Lutes defense racked up 18 steals on the night while causing Lewis & Clark to turn the ball over 30 times. 

The Lutes close out their homestand tomorrow, welcoming Pacific University to Olson Gymnasium with tipoff slated for 4 p.m.