TACOMA, Wash.—The Pacific Lutheran University women's basketball team battled with the Middlebury College Panthers falling 81-49 in the last non-conference match up/game of 2025 for the Lutes Tuesday afternoon.

This marked the first ever meeting between the two schools. PLU splitting their last two home games over winter break were looking to continue to improve as they head in to conference play this week.

Middlebury started the game very quickly getting to their spots hitting a myriad of contested jump shots from distance. Lutes quickly shifted their defensive strategy as they saw Sydney Reisner, Kylie Griffin, and Kate Wooten really turn up the defensive intensity in the first half. Reisner would finish with four steals in this contest tying her season-high. Kiley McMahon provided a spark off the bench with six points in the first half hitting several mid-range jumpers and getting an and-one, which tied her season-high in points. 

Lilli Williams started to force the issue in the second half helping the Lutes stay a float offensively as she finished with 10 points and eight rebounds. Wooten also compile a near double-double finishing with seven points and seven rebounds. 

Emi Wada and Kylie Griffin round out the top performers for the Lutes as they filled up the stat sheet. Wada finished with nine points and four assists, while Griffin totaled eight points and five rebounds.

PLU will return action on Friday, January 2nd to begin the new year and Northwest Conference play against George Fox University at 5:30 PM.