Dec. 2, 2006

Lutes Shut Down Willamette, 57-30, In NWC Game

Game Statistics

Melissa Richardson

For the second straight night the Pacific Lutheran women’s basketball team won in convincing fashion over a Northwest Conference foe. The Lutes beat the visiting Willamette Bearcats, 57-30, on Saturday night in Olson Auditorium.

Pacific Lutheran (4-2 overall, 2-0 NWC) was far from perfect in the game. They were shut down from behind the arc going 0-of-5 and made 17-of-28 free throw attempts. The Lutes shot 43.5 percent from the field making 20 of their 46 shots. Their defense was solid, however, as the Lutes out-rebounded Willamette, 40-27, forced 29 turnovers, and limited the Bearcats to 28 percent shooting from the field.

The game started off slow with PLU leading 6-4 at the 15:46 mark, but the Lutes put together a 15-6 run to pull ahead 21-10 halfway through the first half. PLU never looked back, allowing only six points in the final 10 minutes, and it went into the locker room with a 30-16 lead.

The second half started off with Nikki Johnson draining two field goals in 30 seconds and Trish Buckingham hitting a jumper to put the Lutes up 36-16. This was the closest Willamette would get as PLU played consistent basketball throughout the remainder of the game.

Johnson led the Lutes in scoring with 12 points in 22 minutes of action. Melissa Richardson led PLU in rebounding with six. In all, 15 different Lutes saw playing time during the game, with 11 of them scoring.

Keilyn Fujioka and Maggie Wilkens led the Bearcats with six points apiece. This loss dropped the Bearcats to 0-2 in NWC play and 0-7 overall.

The Lutes' next action is on Dec 8 at Olson Auditorium where they face Evergreen State College. Tip off is set for 7 p.m.

- PLU -