OLYMPIA, Wash. — Breeze Bartle poured on a career-high 13 points but an untimely scoring drought in the final minutes sabotaged the Pacific Lutheran University women's basketball team on Tuesday night, falling 58-56 at the hands of host Evergreen State College at the Costantino Recreation Center. 
 
A Bartle bucket with 4:09 remaining gave the Lutes a four-point cushion over the host Geoducks (4-2) but PLU was kept off the scoreboard the rest of the way, misfiring on its final four shots, including a three with two ticks left in the one possession setback. Evergren State tied the game with 62 seconds left while hitting the game-winner with four seconds remaining to escape with the win. 

"Tonight's game again came down to defense. Not only in the last possession but in not playing intentional defense for a full 40 minutes," said Head Coach Lee Aduddell.
 
Ashley Akamine drained a three just 15 seconds into the game and the visiting Lutes (0-7) staked an eight-point lead off a Sydney Reisner three with 4:50 left in the first quarter. Evergreen State pushed into the driver's seat for the first time on a pair of free throws with 5:14 left in the second and took a slim 31-27 advantage into the halftime break.
 
The Geoduck lead touched double digits with 5:54 left in the third but the Lutes dug deep with a Bartle three the old fashioned way closing the gap and touching off a 9-0 run.
 
PLU led by three heading into the fourth quarter and owned a five-point cushion with 5:20 left off a Stacie Spahr jumper.  
 
Bartle finished with a career-high 13 points while also securing seven rebounds. Reisner matched Bartle's offensive numbers with a baker's dozen, hitting three treys while Akamine had 10 points and five boards. Emi Wada had a team-high five assists with Spahr securing 13 rebounds. 

"Breeze's success is a byproduct of how hard she plays. She has been a great addition to our program and I can't wait to see her continue to grow within our system."
 
The Lutes outrebounded the Geoducks 34-30 but couldn't win the turnover battle that saw Evergreen outscore the Lutes 20-8 in points off turnovers.
 
The Lutes take the rest of the week off and return to the hardwood on Saturday, Dec. 17, hosting University of Redlands at 2 p.m. inside Olson Gymnasium at the Pacific Northwest Tournament.