Clarno Paces Lutes, PLU Ends Three-Game Skid

Game Statistics

Megan Clarno- 14 second half points

TACOMA, Wash. - Senior guard Megan Clarno paced the Pacific Lutheran Lutes, scoring 14 points in a 68-45 Northwest Conferernce defeat of the visiting Pacific Boxers on Saturday night in Olson Auditorium.

Clarno scored her 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field and 3-of-3 from behind the three-point line. She also added five assists and four rebounds. The Lutes, the defending conference champions, had been struggling of late with three straight losses but regained some confidence as the game went on.

The visiting Boxers played tough throughout the first half, particularly in the opening 10 minutes when they took a 12-11 lead on a jumper by Trish Terhar. The Lutes held the biggest margin in the first half, 22-15, on a layup by Kezia Long with 3:18 to play. The Boxers would move within four points at 22-18 with 57 seconds to go, but that would be as close as they would get. The second half would be all Lutes, and Clarno.

Five minutes into the second half the Lutes took a commanding 36-24 lead and added to their advantage. With leading scorer Nikki Johnson struggling from the field, the Lutes had to look to other players to score. Clarno accepted the challenge, scoring all of her team-high 14 points in the second half. Kezia Long added 12, while Johnson and Nikki Scott finished with 10 points apiece. Scott scored eight of her points in the second half. Melissa Richardson added eight points and eight rebounds for the Lutes, who improved to 9-7 overall and 4-4 in conference action.

Pacific’s Kaela Zarkovich scored a game-high 16 points for the Boxers on 6-of-11 shooting, and Terhar added 12 points. Shooting woes hampered the Boxers, who only mustered up a 32.7 team shooting percentage. The loss drops Pacific to 0-8 in conference action and to 4-11 overall.

The Lutes return to conference play next Friday at Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.

- PLU -