TACOMA, Wash. - The Pacific Lutheran University women's basketball team will head to Oregon this weekend to take on Northwest Conference rivals Pacific University and Lewis & Clark College. 
 
The Lutes (12-8, 5-7 NWC) are coming off a road split last weekend in Oregon. Pacific Lutheran had a thrilling overtime victory against Willamette University taking down the Bearcats 50-49. Head Coach Jennifer Childress described the victory as one of the more physical games of the year. Sophomore Madison Salisbury had a double-double scoring 13 points and collecting 10 rebounds. The following day the Lutes came up short, 64-40 against 14th-ranked George Fox University. 
 
The Lutes have faced both the Pios and Boxers earlier in the season and found success against both opponents picking up a pair of victories. 
 
On January 11th the Lutes routed Lewis & Clark 59-35. Senior Anna Hurd was one rebound away from a double-double adding 14 points to her 9 rebounds. The next day, the Lutes took down the Boxers 66-59. Salisbury shot an impressive eight-for-nine from the floor on her way to 21 points. Emma Janousek had a great game with 10 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds. 
 
"This time around we are putting more of a focus on ourselves, and what we personally need to do to get better as a team," said Covington, Washington native Kylee Johnson. "Throughout the year we've figured out what works best for us and our personnel and we're just trying to utilize our capabilities and strengths and make our opponents play our game."
 
Heading into the final road trip of the regular season, Johnson reflected on what a successful end of the season would look like. 
 
"The obvious answer would be if we win our last four games and make it to postseason. But I think also that if we can finish out the year knowing our style of play, being confident in our system, and knowing our roles on the team, it will set us up nicely for next year and really motivate us in the offseason." 
 
Many student athletes enjoy road trips and relish the opportunity to spend extra time with their coaches and teammates. Johnson agreed.
 
"Usually at home the only time I really see my teammates is at practice or around campus briefly, and when we travel together we're with each other 24/ 7 which gives us the chance to talk about things other than basketball, which is a good change every once and a while. Plus everyone is really funny and easy to be around!"
 
Johnson also wanted to give a shout out to the student section at home games this year, saying the team loves to play in front of fans at Olson Gymnasium. 
 
Tip-off against the Boxers will be at 6 p.m. on Friday. On Saturday the Lutes head to Portland to take on Lewis & Clark at 4 p.m. 
 
Feb. 8: PLU vs. Pacific in Forest Grove, Ore. (6 p.m.)
 
Series History: The Lutes and Boxers have battled 77 times since the 1980-1981 season with the scales tilted 44-33 in favor of the Lutes. 
 
About the Boxers: Pacific (7-15, 1-12 NWC) heads into Friday looking to snap a five-game slide. The Boxers lone victory of the conference slate was a 62-56 victory on the road against Lewis & Clark back on Jan. 19. Since then, Pacific has dropped games against Whitworth University (68-58), Whitman College (69-55), George Fox (70-57), University of Puget Sound (63-58), and Willamette University (64-37).
 
Courtney Carolan is the Boxers' leading scorer, dropping 14.2 points per game while Liana Tanaka and Ashley Jones add 13.5 and 10.0 ppg, respectively. Charli Elliott is Pacific's top rebounder, hauling in 8.5 rebounds per game while also adding 9.5 ppg on the offensive end.
 
Feb. 9: PLU vs. Lewis & Clark in Portland, Ore. (4 p.m.)
 
Series History: The Lutes and Pios have met 77 times since the 1980-1981 academic year with PLU holding a 46-30 advantage in the series. 
 
About the Pioneers: Lewis & Clark (2-19, 1-11 NWC) heads into the weekend looking to snap a 15-game skid that stretches all the way back to early December. The Pios edged Linfield College 69-66 in the second game of the NWC season back on Dec. 1 but have gone ice cold since, including falling 78-52 to Whitman and 82-63 to Whitworth last weekend on the road.
 
Delsie Johnson is the Pios top scorer, averaging 13.1 ppg while Alyx Crager adds 11.5 ppg. Johnson additionally leads Lewis & Clark on the glass, hauling in 9.0 rebounds per game.