TACOMA, Wash. — Sydney Reisner dropped a season-high 20 points but it wasn't enough to maintain the Pacific Lutheran University women's basketball team's early lead, as George Fox University did just enough in the second half to claim a 66-55 victory in the Lutes' Northwest Conference opener on Friday night inside Olson Gymnasium.
 
Reisner was unstoppable in the opening half, scoring the opening six points of the game and eight of PLU's first 10 points. The Lutes (1-9, 0-1 NWC) built a seven point lead on a Kate Wooten jumper with 55 ticks left in the opening quarter but the Bruins (6-5, 2-0 NWC) tallied two buckets in the final minute to reduce the gap to 19-16 after one quarter of play. 
 
PLU's lead jumped back up to six on two occasions early in the second quarter, both on Reisner jumpers but an 8-0 run tilted the scales 28-26 in favor of the visiting Bruins. It would be a one possession game the rest of the quarter with the teams heading into the break deadlocked at 30-30.  
 
GFU gained separation in the third, building a 44-37 gap with 3:52 left in the period and owning a seven point edge heading into the fourth. PLU reduced the gap to a single possession on a Ghadir Ramadan layup with 5:36 remaining but was unable to get any closer in the 11-point setback.
 
"I loved our effort and readiness tonight. GFU is always a physical battle and  felt we battled tonight," said Head Coach Lee Aduddell. 
 
"Syd played a flawless first half that allowed us to compete in the second."
 
Reisner led the Lutes, dropping a season-high 20 points with 19 of those coming in the opening two quarters, shooting eight-for-13 from the floor. Lilli Williams added 10 points along with four assists while Kiley McMahon had seven. Kylie Griffin led the way on the glass with eight rebounds while Kate Wooten hauled in five. 
 
PLU outshot the Bruins, finishing the night shooting at a 42.6 percent (23-for-54) clip but was outclassed on the boards with GFU holding a 41-30 rebounding edge. 
 
The Lutes are back in action tomorrow afternoon, hosting Lewis & Clark College at 3 p.m. inside Olson Gymnasium.