MCMINNVILLE, Ore. - Ava Edmonds poured on a career-high 27 points but the Pacific Lutheran University women's basketball squad was unable to hang on to a late lead in the third, falling 74-63 to Northwest Conference rival Linfield University on Friday night inside the Ted Wilson Gymnasium.

The visiting Lutes held a slim 55-54 advantage with 1:51 left in the third quarter after a Kasidy Javernick free throw but the host Wildcats tied the game heading into the fourth quarter. Linfield (7-6, 3-1 NWC) scored the first five points of the fourth and never looked back to cement the win.

The lead changed hands six times in a wild first quarter that saw Edmonds score 10 of the Lutes' 15 points. PLU led 14-13 with just under fourth minutes in the quarter before Linfield scored nine of the next 10, enjoying a 22-15 advantage after 10 minutes of play. PLU chipped away in the second, retaking the lead at 31-30 on an Ashley Akamine layup. The Wildcats scored the final five points of the half, taking a 38-34 lead into the halftime break.

An early three ballooned LInfield's edge to seven early in the third but PLU buckled down, tying the game on a Edmonds three with 7:01 remaining. A pair of free throws from Edmonds gave the Lutes their first lead of the second half at 50-49. The lead would change hands three more times before the Wildcats pulled away.

"Tonight was a fun game against a good conference opponent, said Head Coach Lee Aduddell.

"We didn't defend the perimeter the way we needed to and Linfield capitalized on that."

Edmonds shot eight-for-14 from the floor, hitting five of her seven attempts from beyond the arc while securing a season-high 13 rebounds. It was Edmonds' second double in the past three games. Akamine dropped 13 points with Taylor Schmidtke registering 11 points and eight rebounds. Sydney Reisner dished out a team-high four assists.

"Ava has really embraced her role as a leader on our team. Her performance tonight is the product of her continued hard work."

The Lutes (0-12, 0-3 NWC) outrebounded the Cats 34-28 but turnovers played into the hosts favor, with Linfield enjoying an 18-8 edge in points off turnovers.

PLU finished the game shooting at a 47.8 percent clip (22-for-46). That includes a scorching 72.7 percent in the third but that hot hand cooled in the fourth, shooting just 18.2 percent from the field in the final 10 minutes. Linfield drained 10 threes on the night, shooting 45.5 percent from beyond the arc.

Pacific Lutheran is back on the floor tomorrow at 4 p.m., facing George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon.