Nov. 17, 2006

Lutes Open Season with 64-55 Win over Cal Lutheran

(Courtesy Puget Sound Sports Information Office)

Game Statistics

Nikki Johnson - 15 points, 16 rebounds

Kezia Long - 14 points, 11 rebounds

The Pacific Lutheran women’s basketball team started the 2006-07 season with a win on Friday afternoon at the Puget Sound Tip Off Classic, defeating the California Lutheran Regals, 64-55. PLU, ranked No. 16 in the preseason D3hoops Top 25 coaches’ poll, had two players with double-doubles as the Lutes never trailed the Regals in the game.

The lone tie of the game came when Regals freshman Nita Sims converted a three-point play to knot the game up at nine with 12:35 to go in the first half. PLU responded with a 9-2 run and pulled ahead by as much as 11 with only 2:12 left in the first period. A late first-half run put CLU within one at halftime, 31-30.

PLU opened up the second half with an 8-2 run, pulling ahead, 39-32, at the 16-minute mark. The Regals continued to fight, led by 4-11 guard Tiffiny Shim, who had 10 second-half points. They pulled within one on a basket by sophomore Allison Neill with 7:42 left in the game. The teams continued to trade points until PLU pulled ahead by nine points with 1:34 remaining, capping a 7-0 run on a jumper by senior Nikki Johnson.

The Regals shot 50 percent in the first half, but only 27.3 percent in the second, while PLU increased its shooting percentage in the second half from 36.1 percent to 43.8 percent. The Lutes out-rebounded the Regals, 47-37.

PLU was led by Johnson, a preseason All-America pick, who finished with 15 points and 16 boards. Senior post Kezia Long also picked up a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Junior guard Megan Clarno had 13 points, seven assists and no turnovers for the Lutes, and Trinity Gibbons added five assists.

The Regals were led by Shim, who finished with 18 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Sims added nine points in her first collegiate game, while junior Allison Neill and freshman Maggie Neville both chipped in eight points.

PLU next faces the Oglethorpe Stormy Petrels at 2 p.m. Saturday in the UPS Tip-Off Classic.

- PLU -