SALEM, Ore. - The Pacific Lutheran University women's basketball team held a five-point lead with just over three minutes remaining but was unable to hang on down the stretch, coming up short 57-52 on Friday night to host Willamette University in a Northwest Conference clash inside Cone Field House.
 
A Megan Drake jumper put the visiting Lutes (6-9, 1-5 NWC) up 47-42 with 3:20 remaining in the game but the Bearcats (10-4, 4-1 NWC) rallied over the final minutes, capping the contest off the contest on a 15-5 run to steal the win. A Kassin Hopkins three with 1:53 remaining gave Willamette a two-point buffer and they would hold that advantage the rest of the way, hitting four consecutive free throws in the final 23 seconds to preserve the victory. 
 
Both team's got off to a sluggish start with Willamette hitting the opening bucket nearly three minutes into the game. The rest of the opening quarter would be all Lutes, scoring 13 of the final 19 points of the first to enjoy a 15-10 lead after 10 minutes of play. PLU's lead would swell to as many as eight points before settling on a 27-22 lead at the halftime break.
 
The third quarter featured six lead changes with PLU ultimately holding a 39-36 lead heading into the final period. 

"We got caught up in a half court battle and that was not the game plan," said Head Coach Jennifer Childress. "We simply played too casual and let this one get away in the second half."
 
Emma Janousek led all scorers with 20 points, her third 20 plus point effort of the season, while also adding four rebounds and three steals. Kylie Rademacher added 12 points and nine boards, hitting five of her eight shots from the floor with Megan Drake collecting 10 points. 

"Emma was definitely a highlight for us offensively tonight."
 
PLU won the turnover battle (15-20) and the rebounding battle (33-3) but was outshot on the day. The Bearcats hit 51.1 percent (24-for-47) of its opportunities while the Lutes landed just 35.5 percent (22-for-62) of their shots from the floor. 
 
The Lutes take the rest of the weekend off, returning to the hardwood on January 24, hosting Inclusion Night with NWC rival Lewis & Clark College coming to Olson Gymnasium. Tipoff is slated for 6 p.m.