TACOMA, Wash. – The Pacific Lutheran University women's basketball team gave No. 6 nationally-rated Whitman College all it could handle and then some on Saturday evening inside Olson Gymnasium.  The Lutes led for the majority of the game, but were unable to hold on to a fourth quarter lead in a 73-70 defeat to the Blues. 
 
"I am beyond proud of how well our team competed tonight," said PLU Head Coach Tiffany Twiddy.  "Whitman is not only the top team in our conference, but a nationally-ranked program.  "Tonight we proved that we are a young rising team and we belong in the conversation."
 
The home team led by 11 as the two teams entered the fourth quarter, but the Blues utilized a full court press over the final frame and held the Lutes to just six fourth-quarter points.  PLU was held scoreless for the first 4:52 of the final quarter and by that time trailed 65-64, but a Josie Napoli three-pointer put the Lutes back on top.  Napoli's three was matched by an Elena McHargue triple, but Mady Simmelink struck back and gave the Lutes a two-point lead, 70-68, with 3:44 remaining. 
 
Kaylie McCracken hit back-to-back jumpers to put the Blues ahead 72-70 with 1:35 left, but the Lutes were unable to tie it up. McCracken split a pair of free throws with two seconds left and Ava Edmonds had a shot to tie the score from the top of the key, but couldn't connect and the Blues escaped. 
 
Napoli was one of three players to hit double figures and put up a double-double with 22 points and 10 assists.  Edmonds had 14 and a team-high seven rebounds and Maddie Plevyak had 12.  The Lutes were hot from long range, going 7-for-12 through the first three quarters, but the well went dry in the fourth as they connected on just 2-of-11 attempts. 
 
PLU will remain at home on Tuesday when they welcome crosstown rival University of Puget Sound to Olson Gymnasium for a 6:00 p.m. tip.