FOREST GROVE, Ore. — Suffocating defense allowed the Pacific Lutheran University women's basketball team to reduce a double digit gap to just two points midway through the fourth quarter but an untimely scoring drought sabotaged the Lutes chances of coming away with the win, falling 51-40 to Pacific University on Friday night inside the Stoller Center.

"I thought our bench gave us a great spark in the third quarter," said Head Coach Lee Aduddell. 
 
A pair of free throws put the host Boxers (10-14, 6-9 NWC) up 13 just over two minutes into the second half. Kylie Griffin answered with a three the only fashioned way, hitting a layup and a free throw as the Lutes (8-16, 5-10 NWC) outscored the Boxers 18-8 over the final seven minutes of the third quarter, reducing the deficit to a single possession.
 
A Rylie Wardenaar three with 6:37 left made whittled Pacific's lead to single digits while a Brooke Samura trey made it 38-35 with 20 ticks left in the third. A Brandie Tobin layup with 8:55 remaining in regulation made it a two point game. Pacific increased the lead back up to four before a second chance bucket from Shaela Allen-Greggs pulled Pacific Lutheran back within two with 6:28 left in the game. 
 
PLU's shooting would go ice cold the rest of the game, misfiring on its final seven shots as Pacific slowly earned separation to secure the 11-point win and avenge its earlier season setback to the Lutes. PLU won the first meeting 61-50 back on Jan. 25 inside Olson Gymnasium.
 
Pacific led 15-9 after one quarter of play, scoring eight of the final 10 points of the first stanza. PLU tied the game with 8:03 left before halftime on an Ashley Akamine layup but Pacific again used a big run, closing the half by scoring nine of the final 10 points, taking a 26-16 edge into the intermission. 

Wardenaar led the Lutes with nine points in just 17 minutes of action with all nine of her points coming from beyond the arc. Samura added eight points and eight rebounds while Tobin tallied seven points and seven boards. 
 
PLU outrebounded Pacific 44-41 and held the hosts to shooting just 31.5 percent (17-for-54) from the floor. The Boxers took care of business at the charity stripe making more free throws (13) than the Lutes had attempts (eight).

"We want to end this season with a win and momentum for next year. We'll be prepared to compete tomorrow."
 
The Lutes close out the 2024-2025 season tomorrow evening, facing Lewis & Clark College at 6 p.m. in Portland.