COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. --- The Pacific Lutheran Women's Basketball team overcame a six-point deficit after the opening quarter to defeat the Nebraska Wesleyan Prairie Wolves 64-58. Kasidy Javernick and Brooke Samura combined for 31 points and 22 rebounds as each earned double-doubles.
 
The Prairie Wolves of Nebraska Wesleyan got out to an early 8-2 lead after making a pair of threes, but Taylor Schmidtke went on a 5-0 run by herself before Kasidy Javernick hit a three to give the Lutes a 10-8 lead halfway through the opening quarter. Senior Stacie Spahr made a pair of free throws to extend the run up to 10-0 in favor of the Lutes.
 
Following the Lutes impressive run, Nebraska Weslayan responded with a 10-point run of their own, including a jumper in the final second. At the end of the first, the Prairie Wolves led 18-12.
 
A scoring drought for the first few minutes of the second quarter ended as each team traded baskets at the eight-minute mark. The Prairie Wolves cashed in on a three-pointer to give them the largest lead of the game at 25-14. Samura, Javernick, and Schmidtke helped the Lutes climb back into the game meanwhile the Lutes defense stymied the Wolves. Samura then teamed up with Reisner on a pair of three's before Akamine sank a layup to cap off a 15-2 run. The Wolves were able to stop the bleeding with a three in the final minute to put NWU back on top at the half, 32-31.
 
Spahr and Reisner began the scoring for the Lutes to open the third quarter, taking a two-point lead. Senior Jaida Wood and Sydney Reisner then made two threes in three possessions as the two squads traded buckets. Seven minutes into the third, Schmidtke drove to the hoop and earned a whistle while executing a and-one to put the Lutes up 45-41. Brandie Tobin extended the lead with two minutes left in the quarter, and Javernick drilled one from beyond the arc in the final possession of the third quarter to give the Lutes a 50-44 lead entering the final quarter.
 
A 6-0 run for the Wolves tied the game up three-minutes into the final period, but Samura made a lay-in and two free throws to give PLU the lead once again. The Lutes freshman Guard dominated the final period for the Lutes, scoring 11 of her 18 total points, with seven of which coming from the free throw line. Samura's 11 of the Lutes 14 points in the fourth gave the Lutes a 64-58 win in the neutral site contest. The Lutes get back in the win column and move to 2-4 on the season.
 
Samura led the scoring with 18-points, but also grabbed a team-high 12 rebounds and five assists. Javernick totaled 13-points with 10 boards and a pair of assists. Reisner went three-for-seven from beyond the arc as the Lutes made eight threes as a team. The Lutes shot 31.3% from the field, 25.8% from three, and 66.7% from the charity stripe. The defemse also forced the Wolves to turn the ball over 19 times, as Reisner had three steals in the game as well.
 
"This was a total team win and I'm really proud of our effort and the growth we've seen over the last few games" said Head Coach Lee Aduddell following the Lutes win.
 
The Lutes close out the road trip tomorrow afternoon against the host, Colorado College, at 3 p.m. in Colorado Springs.
 
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