TACOMA, Wash. — A fast start and rock solid defense proved to be a winning combination on Saturday afternoon as the Pacific Lutheran University women's basketball team led wire-to-wire in a 51-38 Northwest Conference victory over Linfield University inside Olson Gymnasium.

The Lutes (10-9, 2-8 NWC) opened the game with treys from Sydney Reisner and Raylie Wardenaar before getting two more from Ava Edmonds and Emi Wada to open the game on a 12-2 run. PLU ended the first quarter with a 14-6 lead and continued to pull away in the second quarter. PLU led by as many as 20 on a pair of Reisner free throws before enjoying a 32-14 halftime advantage.

The pesky Wildcats (10-9, 5-5 NWC) clawed back into the game in the third quarter, using a 13-1 run to whittle an 18-point Lute cushion to just six points with 2:47 remaining in the period. 

PLU responded, getting a three from Tami Gallo-Paul and took a double-digit edge into the final 10 minutes of play. The Lutes led by double digits the entire fourth quarter to cruise to the 13-point win.

The Lutes' tenacious defense limited the Wildcats to their lowest offensive output of the season while the 38 points scored was the fewest points PLU has allowed against an NWC opponent since holding Lewis & Clark College to just 35 in a 59-35 victory back on Jan. 11, 2019. 

"Our focus today was excellent and allowed us to defend at a high level. We knew Linfield would make a run but we handled their press and did enough to get the win," said Head Coach Lee Aduddell. 

"Kasidy stepped up for us in a big way tonight."

Reisner led the Lutes with 15 points while Kasidy Javernick came off the bench and scored 11 as the only other player in double figures. Brandie Tobin hauled in eight rebounds and dished out four assists while Edmonds, Ashley Akamine, and Reisner all finished with a half dozen rebounds. 

Lute Sport Network's Jonathan Cohen catches up with Kasidy Javernick after she came off the bench and scored 11 in @PLUwbb's win over Linfield #GoLutes pic.twitter.com/easp6RXSuw

— PLU Athletics (@golutes) January 28, 2024

PLU was red hot in the first quarter, shooting 57.1 percent (four-for-seven) from three-point range while holding Linfield to shooting just 12.5 percent (two-for-16) from the floor. Linfield finished the game shooting just 26.4 percent (14-for-53), including a dismal 6.3 percent (one-for-16) from beyond the arc.

The Lutes hit the road next weekend, facing Willamette University at 8 p.m. on Friday night in Salem, Oregon.