KIRKLAND, Wash. — Sydney Reisner piled on 19 points in just her second career game but it wasn't enough as the Pacific Lutheran University women's basketball team fell 65-59 to host Northwest University on Saturday to close out the Cascade Challenge.

A Reisner three the old fashioned way brought the Lutes (0-2) to within two with 70 seconds left in the game. A Stacie Spahr steal put the ball back in the hands of the Lutes with under a minute to play but a missed shot forced PLU to send Northwest (1-1) to the free throw line. The host Eagles made all four of their free throw attempts down the stretch to hold on for the six-point win.

"Tonight was a sign of growth. We had a goal to get to double digit assists and we did that as well as cut down on our turnovers," said Head Coach Lee Aduddell.

"This is a game of possessions and we're right there. Our focus in practice this week will be making each possession count."

PLU never trailed in the opening quarter, building a six-point advantage off a Faye Davis bucket with 1:28 left in the quarter. Northwest took its first lead of the night on a three with 6:44 left in the second and enjoyed a slim 30-27 edge at the halftime break.

Northwest's lead swelled to eight with 6:24 left in the third but the Lutes answered with eight of the next 10 points, closing the gap down to a single possession. Six of those eight points came from the sharpshooting ability of Reisner who hit a three to spark the run and another one to whittle the gap to two points. 

Reisner played all 40 minutes, scoring 19 points, including draining a trio of threes. Emi Wada added 12 points and three assists with Ashley Akamine contributing 11 points and five rebounds. Stacie Spahr was a force on the glass, hauling in 11 rebounds.

PLU enjoyed a 15-9 advantage in points off turnovers but Northwest held the edge in bench points by a 29-10 margin. 

The Lutes are back in action on Friday, squaring off against Wheaton College at the Doug McArthur Classic hosted by the University of Puget Sound.