Jan. 3, 2007

Lutes Lose a Close One to Cross Town Rival Puget Sound

Game Statistics

Danika Lawson - 10 points

Forward Marissa Cain scored a game-high 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds as visiting University of Puget Sound Loggers defeated Pacific Lutheran University, 56-53, in a Northwest Conference women's basketball game at Olson Auditorium.

The Loggers defense was key to their victory as they held PLU to 39 percent shooting from the field. UPS kept last year's Northwest Conference MVP Nikki Johnson out of her normal form, holding her to 4-of-14 shooting from the field.

The Lutes started off strong and pulled to a 11-4 lead with 14 minutes to go in the first half, but the Loggers took the lead, 15-13, with a pair of layups by Brie Adderley, and the Loggers would not relinquish their lead for the rest of the game. The rest of the first half was kept close but UPS went into the locker room at halftime with a 30-25 lead.

The Loggers only shot 33 percent from the field in the second half, but the Lutes didn’t do much better only making 11-of-27 shots for 41 percent. UPS pulled away to a 37-28 lead, their biggest of the game, but the Lutes were able to tie it up 39-39 on a jumper by Johnson with 14 minutes left in the game. The rest of the game was close, with the Lutes coming to within one at 52-51. With the score 56-53 in favor of UPS and 3.2 seconds left on the clock, the Lutes had one last chance, but Megan Clarno's last-ditch shot from half court fell short.

Nikki Johnson and Danika Lawson both scored 10 points to pace the Lutes. Trinity Gibbons led the Lutes in assists with five.

Both Cain and Allison Carven had seven rebounds for UPS. Shelby Ramirez led the Loggers in assists with four.

The loss drops PLU to 7-4 overall and 2-1 in NWC play. The Loggers move up to 9-3 overall and 2-1 in the NWC.

The Lutes play this Friday at Lewis & Clark College in Portland. Tip off is set for 6 p.m.

- PLU -