TACOMA, WASH. --- The Pacific Lutheran Women's Basketball team (9-4, 1-3 NWC) fell to the Willamette Bearcats (7-6, 4-0 NWC) on Saturday evening by a score of 62-47. This marks the Lutes first loss inside Olson Gymnasium this season.
 
Both squads began the game attacking the paint, with Brandie Tobin, Ashley Akamine, and Ava Edmonds each earning lay-ups in the first two minutes. Edmonds went on to add a bucket from beyond the arc to put the Lutes up 9-4 in the first quarter and cap off a 5-0 run. The Bearcats answered right back with a five-point run of their own, tying the game at 9-9. Raylie Wardenaar scored her first basket four minutes into the game with a deep three.
 
The story of the game for Willamette was going on prolonged runs and holding the Lutes in scoring droughts. Following a Bearcats 7-0 run, former Northwest Conference Rookie of the Year Sydney Reisner drilled a three to end the quarter with the Lutes trailing by one; 20-19.
 
The second quarter of action was a consistent dose of jumpers from the Bearcats. But Taylor Schmidtke found her stride with four-straight points for the Lutes. Schmidtke's effort was negated in the final minute as the Bearcats nailed back-to-back threes to take a 40-29 lead; their largest of the game.
 
With an opening three in the third, the Lutes were starting the second half down 14. Their comeback effort got down to just a 10-point deficit halfway through the third after Reisner drove to the hoop and executed the contested layup. Following yet another Willamette three-pointer, Akamine answered with a deep ball of her own, once again cutting the deficit to 10. This was as close as the Lutes would make it for the remainder of the game as the Bearcats offense continued to fire on all cylinders in the third.
 
In the final quarter of play, the Lutes would score the first six-points of the quarter, holding the Bearcats to nearly an eight-minute scoring drought. The Bearcats earned their first points with two minutes remaining in the game and adding a three on the ensuing possession. Willamette would hold the Lutes scoreless for the rest of the contest.
 
As a team, the Lutes shot 29% from the field and added a 5-27 mark from beyond the arc. Willamette shot 35% on 10 makes from beyond the arc, which only complimented their 43% shooting from the field. The difference came in the points off the bench, as the Bearcats held a +20 advantage in such category. Akamine lead the Lutes for a second-straight game, tallying 11 points on 40% shooting. The guard grabbed eight rebounds and gathered three steals as well. Akamine was the lone scorer to eclipse double-digits for the Lutes on Saturday.
 
The Lutes return to Olson Gymnasium next Friday and Saturday for yet another doubleheader against Lewis & Clark and Pacific. They will compete at 6 p.m. on Friday against the Pioneers, and at 4 p.m. on Saturday against the Boxers.
 
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