TACOMA, Wash. - The Pacific Lutheran University women's basketball team will host Oregon rivals Lewis & Clark College and Pacific University this weekend inside Olson Gymnasium. This will be the Lutes first game since taking on Willamette University last Friday after splitting a pair of weekday games. 

The Lutes (6-9, 1-5 NWC) are coming off a close setback against Northwest Conference rival Willamette on Friday night. The Lutes had a lead for the majority of the game until a late surge by Willamette in the fourth quarter gave them a 57-52 victory over the Lutes. Senior guard Emma Janousek led the way for the Lutes scoring 20 points while also creating three steals.

Fellow senior Kylie Rademacher had 12 points along with nine rebounds for the Lutes almost picking up her second double-double in three games. Megan Drake also scored in double digits ending the game with 10 points.

Rademacher, a senior from Enumclaw, Washington who is majoring in elementary education and minoring in Kinesiology has stepped into a larger role for the Lutes after a couple of injuries to fellow teammates.
 
"She (Madison Salisbury) leaves a huge void but reality is she's been helping to prepare me all season long, I have gone head to head with her every day at practice and worked my butt off for the past four years so I feel confident stepping up and working to do what I can to help the team," said Rademacher.
 
This confidence has shown the past two games as the senior has scored 12 and 15 points while also collecting nine and six rebounds. 
 

Saturday's LuteFest Schedule: 10 AM - 1 PM: Rowing "Get Back in the Boat" 10:30 AM - 1 PM: Baseball Scrimmage 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM: Softball Scrimmage 11 AM - 12:30 PM: Women's Basketball Alumni Game 12 - 2 PM: Football/XCTF Locker Room Open to Public   12 – 6 PM: South Beach Cuisine Food Truck outside Olson Gymnasium 12 - 3 PM: Golf Simulator Room Open to Public 12:30 - 2 PM: Men's Basketball Alumni Game 2 - 3 PM: Cardio Tennis Class (Sprinker Recreation Center) 4 - 6 PM: Women's Basketball Game vs. Pacific 6 - 8 PM: Men's Basketball Game vs. Pacific

Confidence hasn't been lacking in the Lutes play lately as they have been scoring at a higher pace and converting a much higher percentage of free throws compared to early on in the season, including sinking 20 free throws in last Tuesday's 76-71 overtime win over University of Puget Sound. 
 
"Collectively, as a group we have been working to put up shots outside of practice and I think that makes a big difference. Mindset is also huge, we've all been shooting free throws since our elementary school days, so confidence alone can be the difference." 

Rademacher and the rest of the Lutes will look to embrace this confidence in their two matchups this weekend.

The game this Friday will tip off at 6 p.m. against Lewis & Clark and tip off against Pacific on Saturday will be at 4 p.m. Friday's game will be part of Inclusion Night as PLU will celebrate its commitment to diversity and inclusion while Saturday is LuteFest. 
 


Jan. 24: PLU vs Lewis & Clark inside Olson Gymnasium (6 p.m.)

Series History: The Lutes and Pioneers have met since the 1980-1981 season with the Lutes Leading the all-time series 48-30. In the two meetings last year, the Lutes dominated in both games winning by 24 at home and by 17 on the road. 

About the Pioneers: Lewis & Clark (2-12, 1-5 NWC) split their two games last weekend. Losing Friday night 82-73 to Linfield before bouncing back on Saturday defeating UPS by a score of 64-60. 

Delsie Johnson is the leading scorer for the Pioneers as the sophomore guard is averaging 16.9 points per game. Junior Hannah Martin is the only other Pioneer averaging double digits with 11.4 points per game. Sophomore Jessica Cerne led the Pios with 14 points in their win over Puget Sound.

Jan. 25: PLU vs Pacific University inside Olson Gymnasium (4 p.m.)

Series History: The Lutes and Boxers have met since the 1980-1981 season with the Lutes holding a 45-33 advantage in the all-time series. The Lutes prevailed in both meetings last year winning by 7 at home early in the year and by 2 on the road. 

About the Boxers: Pacific University (12-3, 6-0 NWC) won both their meetings last weekend beating Whitman on Friday night 65-64, following that up with a 82-68 win over Whitworth. The Boxers are on an eight-game winning streak with their last loss coming on December 17th to Northwest Christian.

Courtney Carolan is the leading scorer for the Boxers averaging 15.1 points per game, while Camy Alguinado and Brilie Kovaloff are averaging 14.4 and 11.2 points per game respectively as well for the Boxers. The Boxers tend to share the ball at a high level, already accumulating 209 assists on the season.