PORTLAND, Ore. – The Pacific Lutheran University women's basketball team held Lewis and Clark College to just one point over the final three minutes on Saturday night and a free throw by senior Kylie Rademacher with 2:24 remaining proved to be the difference as the Lutes closed the 2020 season with a 72-71 victory over the Pioneers.
 
"It was an exciting win to end the season," said PLU Head Coach Jennifer Childress. "It came down to the wire and we found a way to get this one for our seniors."
 
A high-scoring first half gave way to a defensive struggle in the second.  PLU and Lewis and Clark were tied at 22 after the first 10 minutes of action and remained so at 42 as they headed to the locker room for halftime.  The Pioneers continued their tremendous offense in the third by scoring 22 more points, and went into the final frame leading by eight.  In the pivotal fourth quarter, the Lute defense dug its heels in, holding the hosts to just seven points, while scoring 16 to earn the win. 
 
In the final period, Megan Drake tied the game at 68 with 3:48 remaining, but Lewis and Clark answered with a bucket by Delsie Johnson on the ensuing possession.  Not wanting to end her college career in defeat, Emma Janousek responded with a three-pointer to put the visitors up one and Rademacher split a pair of free throws to put PLU up two.  Johnson split a pair of freebies with 1:06 left and missed a shot with four seconds remaining to allow the Lutes to emerge victorious. 
 
Janousek played a team-high 38 minutes and scored a game-high 28 points to go with five rebounds and four steals.  Freshman Toni Thibert also finished with four thefts for the Lutes.  Jorie Lambert was the only other Lute to finish in double figures in points with 11 and Hailey Marsh pulled down nine rebounds.