WALLA WALLA, Wash. – Squaring off against its first nationally-ranked opponent of the Northwest Conference schedule, the Pacific Lutheran University women's basketball team outscored Whitman College over the final three quarters on Saturday evening, but couldn't overcome an early deficit in a 69-56 defeat. 
 
It was a tough first half for the Lutes offensively as they were held to just 25 percent shooting from the field and scored just three points in the first quarter.  Madison Salisbury led the first half effort with six points and four rebounds. 
 
The Blues (10-1, 2-0 NWC), ranked 13^th in Division III by D3hoops.com, took control from the start, jumping out to a 13-0 lead and a 17-3 advantage by the end of the first quarter.  PLU (5-6, 0-2 NWC) hung tough in the second frame as Whitman outscored the Lutes by just four over the next 10 minutes. 
 
Dealing with a number of injuries, the Lutes had a tough start to the second half, as Whitman increased their lead to as many as 27 points in the third quarter.  PLU, however, refused to go down quietly as it whittled the lead all the way down to 13 on a three-pointer by Toni Thibert with 3:41 left in regulation.  The Lutes would get the lead down to 13 on three more occasions, but would get no closer.
 
For the game, PLU shot 41.8 percent from the floor, boosted by a blistering 11-for-17 effort in the final quarter.  Salisbury led the effort with 16 points on 8-of-11 shooting to go with eight rebounds.  Emma Janousek chipped in 10 points, three assists and three steals.  Holly Flynn also played outstanding defense to lead the Lutes with four steals.
 
The Lutes will return home next weekend when they host Linfield College at 6:00 p.m. on Friday and No. 9 George Fox University at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday.