TACOMA, Wash. — Ashley Akamine finished in double figures for the third consecutive game but it wasn't enough as the Pacific Lutheran University women's basketball team was unable to keep pace with Wheaton College on Friday night at the Doug McArthur Classic, stumbling 71-41 at the University of Puget Sound's Memorial Fieldhouse.
 
Akamine finished the game with 11 points to lead the Lutes (0-3), hitting five of her eight shots from the floor to match her career-high set last weekend while Stacie Spahr secured a game-high 10 rebounds and dished out three assists. 

"Tonight was another learning opportunity for our young team. We got outplayed by a good team on both ends of the floor but this game can have great value for us if we can leverage the learns," said Head Coach Lee Aduddell. 

"Ashley continues to be an efficient scorer and we're so excited about how much potential she has this season and for her career."
 
Consecutive buckets from Akamine gave the Lutes the 4-2 lead through the opening three minutes of the game. The Thunder (3-1) scored the next five to take the lead but an Emi Wada three with 4:23 left in the first knotted the game at 9-9.
 
Wheaton scored the next eight points, spanning the opening two quarters and never looked back, cruising to the win.
 
Wada closed the night with nine points while Sydney Reisner contributed eight points. 
 
PLU was narrowly edged 34-30 on the glass but turnovers proved costly for the Lutes with the Thunder enjoying a 29-7 advantage in points off turnovers.
 
PLU has the rest of the weekend off and returns to the hardwood on Tuesday to open up its home slate. The Lutes welcome Whittier College to Olson Gymnasium for the first of three straight home games.