SPOKANE, Wash. — A balanced scoring attack kept the Pacific Lutheran University women's basketball team in the mix until the final moments, coming up short 64-56 on Saturday afternoon on the road against Northwest Conference rival Whitworth University.
 
An Ashley Akamine layup with 2:14 remaining in the game pulled the Lutes (9-7, 1-6 NWC) within a single possession of tying the game. Unfortunately the Lutes would misfire on their final five shots of the night as the host Pirates (6-10, 3-4 NWC) cashed in at the free throw line to hang on for the win.
 
All 11 Lutes that saw the court on Saturday scored a bucket but PLU's balanced approach was not enough against the NWC's leading scorer as the Pirates' Kimberly Dewey closed the night with a game-high 28 points.
 
"Attacking offensively was one of our keys tonight and I'm pleased with how we did that but we left crucial points at the free throw line," said Head Coach Lee Aduddell. 
 
"There's a reason Dewey is leading the league in scoring and she showed that tonight. We did not defend her the way we hoped to and we let her have a game."
 
PLU led early in the game, owning a five-point edge on an Emi Wada jumper with four minutes left in the first quarter. Whitworth owned a two-point edge after 10 minutes of play but would enjoy a 10-point gap at the halftime intermission, leading 37-27 after a Dewey three.
 
Whitworth's lead would expand to 13 late in the third before the Lutes' started chipping away, utilizing a 16-6 run to close the gap to 59-56 with just over two minutes remaining. 
 
Raylie Wardenaar led the Lutes with eight points on the day with Ava Edmonds adding seven points. Stacie Spahr tallied seven points and eight rebounds while Sydney Reisner and Brandie Tobin both added a half dozen points. Tobin hauled in eight rebounds while Emi Wada and Jaida Wood both chipped in five points.
 
PLU enjoyed a 25-7 edge in bench points, owned a 34-26 advantage in points in the paint, and outscored Whitworth 11-4 in second chance points. 
 
The Lutes are back on the hardwood tomorrow afternoon, facing Whitman College at 2 p.m. in Walla Walla.