TACOMA, Wash. - The Pacific Lutheran University women's basketball team kicks off the second half of Northwest Conference play this weekend, welcoming the Whits to Olson Gymnasium. The Lutes host ninth-ranked Whitman College on Friday night before battling Whitworth University on Saturday during the team's annual Breast Cancer Awareness/Pink Game. 

The Lutes (8-9, 3-5 NWC) are coming off a big weekend where they swept Oregon rivals Lewis & Clark College and Pacific University. The Lutes beat the Pioneers by 21 before finishing up the weekend with a three-point victory over previously unbeaten Pacific. The Lutes battled all game and were able to sink clutch free throws down the stretch from Emma Janousek and Megan Drake to give them the victory. The two wins have bumped the Lutes into a tie for fifth place in the conference and currently sit one game out of a spot in the NWC Tournament.

Senior Emma Janousek led the Lutes with 19 points on Saturday and fellow Senior Kylie Rademacher dropped 14. Junior Hailey Marsh gave the Lutes a big spark on the bench scoring seven points and bringing down six rebounds in 17 minutes of play.

Marsh, a junior from University Place, Washington, is averaging four points and three rebounds per game after dealing with an injury earlier in the season. 

"I was able to take three weeks off and rehab and during that time my teammates worked extra hard and inspired me and now that I'm back and other people are injured, I'm inspired to do the same. I want to work extra hard for my teammates and provide that spark for them," said Marsh. 

"We're focusing on taking each game one at a time and controlling what we can control." Although a junior, Marsh will be graduating this spring with a degree in business administration and will be returning to PLU next year for the Masters in Business Administration program.

The game this Friday will tip off at 6 p.m. against the Blues and at 4 p.m. against the Pirates on Saturday

Jan. 31: PLU vs Whitman inside Olson Gymnasium (6 p.m.)

Series History: The Lutes and Blues have met since the 1980-1981 season with the Blues leading the all-time series 43-31. The Lutes have lost 19 straight games to the Blues with their last win coming back in the 2009-2010 season. In the first matchup this year the Lutes were led by Madison Salisbury who ended with 16 points but the Lutes were defeated 69-56  

About the Blues: Ninth-ranked Whitman (15-2, 7-1 NWC) have won their last three games. They won last Friday by five over Whitworth before defeating Linfield on Saturday night by 19.

The Blues are led by Makana Stone who is averaging just over 15 points per game for the Blues. Senior Mady Burdett is close behind averaging 14 points per game as well. The Blues are strong on the defensive end racking up 51 blocks on the season while only being blocked 22 times by opponents.

Feb. 1: PLU vs Whitworth inside Olson Gymnasium (4 p.m.)

Series History: The Lutes and Pirates have met since the 1980-1981 season whit the Pirates owning a 39-33 advantage in the all-time series. The Pirates have won 14 straight over the Lutes, winning their previous matchup this year 67-62. The Lutes will be looking for their first win over the pirates since January 2011.

About the Pirates: Whitworth (10-7, 3-5 NWC) are on a one game win streak after losing to Whitman last Tuesday they were able to bounce back and defeat Linfield by three on Friday night. 

The Pirates were led by Courtney Gray in the first matchup against the Lutes as she put up 17 in the five-point victory. Sydney Abbott and Quincy McDeid are the leading scorers for the Pirates both averaging 13.2 points per game.