TACOMA, Wash. - The Pacific Lutheran University women's basketball team will welcome Northwest Conference rivals Linfield College and George Fox University to Olson Gymnasium this weekend. These will be the first conference games played at home by the Lutes in the 2019-2020 season. 
 
The Lutes (5-6, 0-2 NWC) are coming off an 0-2 start in conference play after tough setbacks against Whitworth University and Whitman College on the road. The Lutes held strong against both teams. Senior Emma Janousek led a late charge against Whitworth scoring a team high 14 points in a game that ended 67-62 in favor of the Pirates. Whitman is ranked 13th in the nation and the Lutes knew they would have their hands full. Madison Salisbury had a nice game against the Blues putting up 16 points with homestanding Whitman claiming the 69-56 win. 
 
Katie Taylor leads the team and is tied for the NWC lead in scoring, averaging 18.1 points per game. Madison Salisbury leads the team in rebounds per game with 8.3 and ranks fifth in the conference. Emma Janousek has been impressive on both sides of the ball accumulating 29 steals thus far and has been the primary point guard for the team. 
 
The gritty Lutes remain one of the nation's top squads in offensive rebounds, leading the NWC and ranking 27th nationally out of 431 Division III teams with a 17.3 per game average.
 
Action this weekend will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday against the WIldcats. Tip off against the Bruins will happen at 4 p.m. on Saturday. 
 
Camper Night: Friday night the Lutes celebrate camper night. Children who attended any Lute sport camp receive free admission to the game. 
 
Jan. 10: PLU vs. Linfield inside Olson Gymnasium (6 p.m.)

Series History: The Lutes and Wildcats have met 80 times on the hardwood since the 1980-81 season with PLU enjoying a 49-31 advantage in the all-time series. The two teams split the season series last season, both earning road victories. 
 
About the Wildcats: Linfield (6-5, 0-2 NWC) opened the conference slate on a sour note last weekend, falling just short, 68-64, against Pacific University before ending up on the wrong side of a 76-66 affair against George Fox. 
 
Molly Danielson is the Wildcats' leader in scoring and on the glass, averaging 18.1 points per game and 11.6 rebounds per game. Kory Oleson adds 17.8 ppg with Delaney Ragan the third Wildcat in double figures, netting 10.5 ppg. 
 
Jan. 11: PLU vs. George Fox inside Olson Gymnasium (4 p.m.)
 
Series History: The Lutes and Bruins have tangled 56 times since the 1980-1981 season with George Fox owning a 39-17 edge in the series. The Bruins had the upper hand last season, sweeping the season series. 
 
About the Bruins: Eighth-ranked George Fox (9-3, 1-2 NWC) dropped its season opener 74-55 to Trinity University (Texas) before winning nine of its next 10 games. The Bruins opened league action last Friday by falling 50-45 to visiting Willamette University before downing Linfield 76-66 the following day. George Fox stumbled on Tuesday night, getting unseated 61-47 on the road against Pacific. 
 
The Bruins feature a balanced scoring attack with five players averaging between 10.0 and 9.1 points per game. Emily Holder headlines that group with a 10.0 ppg average while Emily Spencer and Haley Strowbridge add 9.8 and 9.7 ppg, respectively.