TACOMA, Wash. – Playing exclusively freshman and sophomores, the Pacific Lutheran University women's basketball team was tied with Pomona-Pitzer College at halftime, but the young Lutes couldn't keep pace with the Sagehens in the third quarter as they pulled away for a 68-46 victory on Names Family Court.
 
PLU trailed by just two 12-10 after the first quarter of action, and the Lutes caught fire in the second quarter, making 9-of-18 shots and pouring in 23 points.  All square at 33 at halftime, and tied again at 37 with 6:20 left in the third frame, Pomona-Pitzer went on a 20-0 run over the next 10 minutes of action to break open a close game. 
 
Ava Edmonds, the only returner from last season's squad, led the team with 13 points, four blocks, three steals and four rebounds.  Freshman Josie Napoli add 11 points and seven assists in her first game in black and gold. As a team, the Lutes were held to 28.1 percent shooting from the field and 16.7 percent from three-point range. 
 
The Sagehens were dominant on the glass snatching 50 rebounds to PLU's 34.  Kayla Hankins led a balanced attack for Pomona-Pitzer with 12 points.  Allison Murphy had 10 and Madison Quan and Emily Church had nine each. 
 
The Lutes (0-1) will remain at home next week when they host Montana State University-Northern on Wednesday and Northwest Indian College on Friday.  Both games are scheduled for 7:00 p.m.